Bill Gates will not deliver the keynote address he was earlier scheduled to give at the India AI Impact Summit, the Gates Foundation said on Thursday. 

The foundation did not specify reasons for the decision, but it follows reports that organisers were uncomfortable offering Gates the stage after his name appeared in documents linked to late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. 

Government sources had said on February 17 that the invitation extended to Gates—well before the recent revelations related to Epstein—had been withdrawn and that he would not participate in the five-day conference, which began on February 16. However, a spokesperson for the Gates Foundation had earlier maintained that he would attend.

Gates would not speak in order to keep the focus on the summit’s priorities: Gates Foundation

In a post on X on Thursday, the foundation said Gates would not speak in order to keep the focus on the summit’s priorities. “The Gates Foundation will be represented by Ankur Vora, President of Africa and India Offices, who will speak later today at the Summit,” it said. “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 added that it remains fully committed to its work in India to advance shared health and development goals. 

Gates had been listed among key speakers

Gates had been listed among key speakers on the summit’s official website and was scheduled to deliver a 12-minute keynote on February 19 at Bharat Mandapam. His name, however, was removed from the participants’ list earlier this week. 

While Gates has not been accused of wrongdoing by Epstein’s victims, documents released by the US Justice Department include an allegation attributed to Epstein regarding Gates. A spokesperson for Gates has previously described the claim as “absolutely absurd”.   

Gates arrived in India on Monday and began his visit in Vijayawada, where he met N. Chandrababu Naidu, Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan, and other state officials.  

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said India sees future in Artificial Intelligence and urged the global leaders to “design in India” and “deliver to the world”.   

“We have talent, energy capacity, and policy clarity. From semiconductors to chip making, India is building a resilient AI ecosystem. Secured data centres, strong IT backbone, dynamic startup ecosystem make India a natural hub for affordable, scalable and secure AI. India has diversity, demography and democracy. The AI model that succeeds in India can be deployed globally. That is why I urge all of you to design and develop in India, deliver to the world, and deliver to humanity,” PM Modi said in his inaugural address at the India AI Impact Summit 2026.