NEW DELHI, India — Tech titan Bill Gates has abruptly cancelled his keynote address at the India AI Impact Summit 2026, as renewed scrutiny over his past association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein continues to draw attention and controversy.
The announcement has added to a difficult start for the high‑profile summit in the Indian capital.
Gates, the Microsoft co‑founder and co‑chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, was scheduled to deliver a leading keynote speech on Feb. 19 alongside global figures such as Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, French President Emmanuel Macron, and tech executives including Google CEO Sundar Pichai and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman.
However, in a statement released by the Gates Foundation, organizers confirmed that Gates will not deliver his planned address at the summit’s flagship event at Bharat Mandapam.
The foundation said the decision was made “after careful consideration, and to ensure the focus remains on the AI Summit’s key priorities.”
BREAKING Bill Gates has cancelled his speech that was scheduled for Thursday at a major AI summit in India, the Gates Foundation said, after the Microsoft founder was named in the Epstein files
Epstein Files and Renewed Controversy
The cancellation follows a fresh tranche of documents, commonly referred to as the Epstein files, released by the U.S. Department of Justice that include references to past communications between Gates and the late financier Jeffrey Epstein.
In the emails, Epstein claimed he and Gates met multiple times after Epstein’s release from prison, although Gates has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing.
In response to the recent disclosures, Gates described meeting Epstein as a “mistake” and insisted his interactions with him were focused on philanthropic efforts.
He has also rejected other allegations circulating online as “absurd and completely false.”
Summit Representation Shift
In Gates’ absence, the foundation said Ankur Vora, president of its Africa and India offices, would represent the organization at the summit and deliver remarks on its behalf.
The foundation reiterated its commitment to “our work in India to advance our shared health and development goals,” indicating that its broader engagements in the country remain intact despite the keynote withdrawal.
The sudden reversal comes after days of mixed messaging around Gates’ participation.
Just a day earlier, the foundation had appeared to confirm his involvement, dismissing speculation about his attendance and reaffirming his scheduled keynote.
Yet Gates’ name was later removed from the official summit speaker list, feeding further confusion.
Summit Under Strain
Gates’ cancellation compounds a growing list of challenges facing the India AI Impact Summit, which aims to position India as a global leader in artificial intelligence governance and innovation.
Another high‑profile absence came from Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, who also pulled out at the last minute.
Delegates and attendees have noted organisational issues, including traffic disruptions caused by VIP movements, logistical complaints, and programming setbacks.
Despite these setbacks, the summit continues through Feb. 20, with discussions structured around key themes such as People, Planet and Progress.
Organisers, including the Indian government, remain focused on using the forum to explore the ethical, economic, and societal impacts of AI — particularly in the Global South.
