A day after confirming that Bill Gates would headline the India AI Impact Summit 2026, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation announced a reversal, stating the Microsoft co-founder would no longer deliver the keynote.
The summit, being held at Bharat Mandapam, was expected to feature Gates as one of its marquee speakers. However, in a statement issued Thursday, the foundation said the decision was taken “after careful consideration” to ensure attention remains on the summit’s core agenda.
“After careful consideration, and to ensure the focus remains on the AI Summit’s key priorities, Mr. Gates will not be delivering his keynote address,” the statement said. It added that Ankur Vora, President of the Foundation’s Africa and India Offices, would represent the organisation at the event. The foundation reiterated its commitment to its health and development initiatives in India.
The change in plans comes amid renewed scrutiny surrounding Gates’ name appearing in documents related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, who died in 2019. Gates has previously dismissed allegations linked to those documents as “absolutely absurd and completely false.”
Notably, just a day earlier, the foundation had rejected speculation over his participation and said he would deliver the keynote “as scheduled,” making Thursday’s announcement a significant shift.
Gates had arrived in India earlier this week and was received at Gannavaram Airport by senior leaders, including Andhra Pradesh minister Nara Lokesh, who welcomed him publicly.
While his visit focused on development and technology partnerships, sections of social media criticised his presence, referencing the Epstein-related documents and questioning his engagements in India.
The summit, now in its fourth day, continues with a high-profile lineup. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, French President Emmanuel Macron, and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres are among the global leaders scheduled to address the gathering. Technology and business figures, including Sam Altman and Mukesh Ambani, are also slated to speak.
Despite the controversy, organisers indicated that the broader agenda of artificial intelligence, innovation, and development partnerships remains unchanged.
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