Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates officially withdrew from his scheduled keynote address at the AI Impact Summit in New Delhi on Thursday morning. The decision came shortly before his planned speech at 11:50 AM at Bharat Mandapam. While the Gates Foundation had earlier confirmed his presence, they later issued a statement saying he would not speak to keep the focus on the summit’s key priorities. Ankur Vora, President of Africa and India Offices for the Foundation, took over the speaking duties for the event.
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Reason Behind the Last-Minute Withdrawal
The sudden change in plans follows recent public scrutiny regarding Gates’ past association with Jeffrey Epstein. An Information Technology ministry official clarified that Gates made the decision on his own and faced no pressure from the Indian government. There were concerns among officials that potential protests could distract from the main message of the summit, especially after Gates visited Mumbai earlier in the week. The Foundation emphasized that despite this change, they remain fully committed to their health and development goals in India.
Details of the AI Impact Summit 2026
The summit is organized by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology and runs from February 16 to 20 at Bharat Mandapam. It features global leaders including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, French President Emmanuel Macron, and tech CEOs like Sam Altman and Jensen Huang. While the inaugural ceremony was by invitation only, registration for other sessions is free for the public. Attendees must use the official app for entry, which is strictly managed via QR codes and DigiYatra verification at the venue.
