Bill Gates pulls out of India AI Impact Summit amid Epstein files storm

In a dramatic reversal, Bill Gates will no longer deliver the keynote address at the India AI Impact Summit 2026, just a day after his participation was officially confirmed.

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation announced on February 19 that the Microsoft co-founder would skip the event “after careful consideration,” underscoring a swift change of course as controversy surrounding his alleged links cited in the Epstein files intensifies.

Gates had been scheduled to speak at Bharat Mandapam on February 19. In a statement, the foundation said the decision was taken to “ensure the focus remains on the AI Summit’s key priorities.”

“Mr. Gates will not be delivering his keynote address,” the foundation said, adding that Ankur Vora, President of its Africa and India Offices, would represent the organization instead. “The Gates Foundation remains fully committed to our work in India to advance our shared health and development goals.”

The withdrawal marks a sharp U-turn. Just 24 hours earlier, the foundation had dismissed speculation about his attendance and maintained that Gates “will be delivering his keynote as scheduled.”

Shadow of Epstein files

The decision comes as Gates faces renewed scrutiny after his name reportedly appeared multiple times in documents linked to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, who died in prison in 2019.

The tech billionaire has categorically rejected any wrongdoing, calling allegations tied to the so-called Epstein files “absolutely absurd and completely false.”

Still, the controversy has fuelled online backlash during his India visit, with critics questioning his presence and motives. Some social media users accused him of treating “India as a testing lab,” claims that have circulated alongside the broader scrutiny.

Red carpet welcome, rising backlash

Earlier this week, Gates received a high-profile welcome in Andhra Pradesh, where he was greeted at Gannavaram Airport by state leaders including Nara Lokesh.

“Welcome to Amaravati, Mr Bill Gates. It was a pleasure to receive the Chair of the Gates Foundation at Gannavaram Airport today,” Lokesh wrote in a post on X.

But even as state officials rolled out the red carpet, the backlash gathered momentum online — setting the stage for what has now become a conspicuous withdrawal from one of India’s marquee technology events.

Summit continues with global heavyweights

The AI Impact Summit, now in its fourth day, continues to draw a formidable lineup of global leaders. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, French President Emmanuel Macron, and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres are scheduled to address the gathering.

Technology and business leaders, including Sam Altman and Mukesh Ambani, are also set to take the stage.

Yet Gates’s absence — announced at the eleventh hour — has ensured that controversy, rather than innovation, has seized the spotlight at this year’s summit.