Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates has pulled out of delivering the keynote address at the AI Impact Summit in New Delhi, as fresh scrutiny over his past association with the late financier Jeffrey Epstein intensifies.
In a statement, the Gates Foundation said the decision was taken to ensure the spotlight remains on the summit’s core themes.
“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.
It added that it remains fully committed to its health and development initiatives in India. The president overseeing its Africa and India offices will represent the foundation at the event.
The AI Impact Summit is seeing participation from several global technology leaders, with discussions centred on the opportunities and risks posed by artificial intelligence. The event aims to move the conversation beyond headline-grabbing AI model races to real-world deployment and regulatory challenges.
The development comes after a fresh tranche of documents released by the United States Department of Justice included references to Gates in connection with Epstein.
In one draft email contained in the files, Epstein made allegations about Gates’ personal life. There is no evidence that the draft email was ever sent. The mere mention of a person’s name in the Epstein files does not in itself imply wrongdoing.
Epstein, a convicted sex offender, died by suicide in 2019 while in custody awaiting trial on federal charges.
Earlier this month, Gates told 9News Australia that he regrets “every minute” spent with Epstein and apologised for the association. He also denied allegations contained in the documents, describing one purported email as false.
A spokesperson for Gates reiterated the denial, saying the documents reflect Epstein’s frustration at not having an ongoing relationship with the billionaire philanthropist and alleging attempts to “entrap and defame” him.
The controversy has now spilled into the public domain at a time when India is seeking to position itself as a responsible and influential voice in shaping the global AI agenda.
