Delhi, India — In a surprising development, Bill Gates will no longer deliver his scheduled keynote at the India AI Impact Summit in Delhi, according to his philanthropic organization. The decision was announced just hours before the Microsoft co-founder was set to speak at the high-profile event.
The Gates Foundation cited “careful consideration” and a desire to keep the summit’s focus on its core priorities as reasons for Gates’s withdrawal, but did not provide further details.
Gates’s absence comes amidst ongoing controversy surrounding his connections to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. New files released by the U.S. Department of Justice in January had linked Gates to Epstein, prompting public scrutiny. Gates’s spokesperson dismissed these claims as “absolutely absurd and completely false,” and Gates himself expressed regret over his past interactions with Epstein. It is important to note that Gates has not been accused of any wrongdoing by Epstein’s victims, and the mention of his name in the files does not imply criminal activity.
Replacing Gates at the event, Ankur Vora, President of the Gates Foundation’s Africa and India offices, will deliver the keynote in his stead. The organization reaffirmed its commitment to advancing health and development goals in India.
Despite Gates’s absence, the summit continues to feature prominent speakers, including OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron also addressed the gathering, emphasizing the importance of democratizing AI and fostering collaborative innovation. Modi highlighted the necessity of sharing technology to prevent humans from merely becoming data points or raw materials for AI, advocating for AI as a tool for inclusion and empowerment, especially for the Global South. Macron called for a shift from “doing more” to “doing better” together in AI development.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres echoed these sentiments, stressing that AI’s future should not be determined by a few countries or billionaires. Google CEO Sundar Pichai highlighted India’s rising role in AI, revealing plans for a full-stack AI hub in Vishakhapatnam to generate jobs and technological advancement. Meanwhile, billionaire Mukesh Ambani pledged a $110 billion investment over seven years to bolster India’s AI ecosystem, and Dario Amodei of Anthropic expressed interest in collaborating with India on AI safety and security testing.
Gates’s decision to withdraw follows days of uncertainty about his participation. He arrived in India earlier this week, visiting Andhra Pradesh and discussing initiatives in health, agriculture, education, and technology. Media speculation about his potential pullout surfaced earlier, but his foundation initially confirmed he would speak as scheduled.
The summit, now entering its fifth day, is regarded as India’s flagship event for positioning itself as a global AI hub. It has attracted delegates from over 100 countries, including several heads of state. The event has faced some controversy, including reports of mismanagement and a Chinese-made robot dog falsely claimed to be developed by an Indian university.
The five-day event features policy discussions, startup showcases, and closed-door meetings on AI governance, infrastructure, and innovation. Several companies, including Microsoft, announced investments to expand AI access and infrastructure across India during the summit.
