Bill Gates Skips India AI Summit, Focus on Health Priorities Affirmed

Bill Gates, the co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, has opted out of delivering a keynote address at the India AI Impact Summit 2026. The foundation confirmed that Gates will not attend the summit, which is set to take place later today. In an official statement, the foundation explained that the decision was made after careful consideration, aimed to ensure that the focus remains on the summit's key priorities.

The statement further noted, "The Gates Foundation remains fully committed to our work in India to advance our shared health and development goals." Ankur Vora, President of the foundation's Africa and India Offices, will be representing the foundation at the summit and will deliver a speech.

Previously, there had been conflicting reports regarding Gates' attendance at the summit. Initially, it was thought that he would be participating; however, the foundation later confirmed that he would not be delivering his address as scheduled.

Bill Gates arrived in India earlier this week, visiting Andhra Pradesh, where he met with government officials including Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and Deputy Chief Minister K. Pawan Kalyan. During this visit, several projects supported by the Gates Foundation were inaugurated, highlighting the foundation’s ongoing commitment to health and development initiatives in the region.

Gates' absence from the summit comes amid growing scrutiny due to his inclusion in recently released documents related to Jeffrey Epstein. Gates has been mentioned in emails which allegedly claim that he sought assistance from Epstein regarding personal matters.

A spokesperson for Gates has categorically denied these allegations, calling them "absurd" and "completely false." The spokesperson emphasised that the documents only illustrate Epstein's attempts to entrap and defame Gates. The foundation’s work in India remains unaffected by the controversy, as stated in their commitment to focus on important health initiatives in the nation.

The AI Impact Summit aims to foster discussions on artificial intelligence's potential impacts on society, with various experts and leaders expected to contribute insights on this agenda. As the summit proceeds without Gates, the foundation’s representation will ensure that key conversations regarding health and sustainability remain at the forefront of the event’s discussions.