Bill Gates abruptly cancelled a keynote address at the AI Impact Summit in Fresh Delhi on Thursday, hours before he was scheduled to speak alongside world leaders and technology executives, amid renewed scrutiny over his past association with Jeffrey Epstein.
The Microsoft co-founder’s withdrawal came less than 48 hours after the Gates Foundation affirmed his attendance and planned speech, according to a statement released by the foundation. “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 foundation said.
The timing of the cancellation coincides with increased attention to the latest release of documents related to Epstein, the convicted sex offender who died by suicide in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. Recent filings have intensified questions about the nature of Gates’s relationship with Epstein, including allegations that Gates sought to conceal information about his interactions with individuals described as “Russian girls,” as reported by 9News Australia earlier this month.
Gates has publicly acknowledged regretting his association with Epstein. “Every minute I spent with him, I regret,” he told 9News. He has denied a specific claim appearing in a draft email written by Epstein, calling it “false.”
The AI Impact Summit, convened by India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has drawn a high-profile international delegation, including French President Emmanuel Macron, Indian industrialist Mukesh Ambani, and leaders from major technology companies like OpenAI and Google. Modi has been actively promoting India as a global hub for artificial intelligence, as highlighted in a recent report by WSLS.
The Gates Foundation emphasized its ongoing commitment to its work in India, stating that Ankur Vora, president of its Africa and India offices, would represent the foundation at the summit. The foundation’s work in India focuses on leveraging AI for social good and advancing health and development goals.
Also addressing the summit were Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI; Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google; and Sriram Krishnan, a White House AI advisor. The UK was represented by Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy and AI Minister Kanishka Narayan. Former UK Chancellor George Osborne, now employed by OpenAI, cautioned attendees about the risks of falling behind in AI development, warning of potential economic consequences. Rishi Sunak, former UK Prime Minister and current advisor to Anthropic, urged political leaders to prioritize the rollout of AI technologies.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres used the summit as a platform to call for greater inclusivity in the development and deployment of AI, urging technology leaders to contribute to a $3 billion global fund to ensure equitable access to the technology. Guterres argued that the future of AI should not be determined by a small group of billionaires.
The cancellation of Gates’s keynote address leaves unanswered questions about the extent to which the Epstein controversy influenced his decision and whether it will impact the Gates Foundation’s ongoing work in India.
