New Delhi — In an unexpected turn ahead of one of Asia’s marquee technology events, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates withdrew from delivering the keynote address at the India AI Impact Summit 2026 on 19 February, citing “unforeseen circumstances” amid a swirling global controversy surrounding newly released Epstein files.
The decision came just hours before the summit convened to discuss artificial intelligence governance, innovation and international collaboration was scheduled to open in the national capital. Organisers said Gates, whose philanthropic work through the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has had longstanding ties with India’s public health and education sectors, would “remain an engaged partner” in the summit but would not appear in person.
Multiple media reports suggest the move was prompted by renewed scrutiny of the Epstein files, a batch of U.S. court documents unsealed in early February 2026 as part of legal proceedings connected to late financier Jeffrey Epstein. Though the files do not contain legally established allegations against Gates, references to his name within the voluminous disclosures have sparked discussion and, in some quarters, public pressure. In the wake of the kerfuffle, summit organisers and Gates’ representatives said his participation was scaled back as a matter of “scheduling and focus,” even as questions about the role of unrelated disclosures circulated online.
In a statement shared with attendees, the India AI Impact Summit noted that Gates would continue to contribute to sessions via pre-recorded messages and remote engagements, emphasising his commitment to the summit’s core goals: responsible AI deployment, ethical frameworks, and leveraging artificial intelligence for societal benefit. “We look forward to the thoughtful insights he has shared with us,” the statement read, without further elaborating on the decision to alter his appearance.
The summit itself draws hundreds of experts from government, industry and academia, and was designed to showcase India’s ambition to be a global leader in setting AI standards and fostering innovation ecosystems. Gates’ keynote was expected to touch on AI’s potential in health, agriculture and financial inclusion, themes closely aligned with philanthropic priorities of the Gates Foundation in India and beyond.
In responding to queries about his absence, spokespeople said that Gates will participate in select panel discussions virtually and that his engagement reflects “logistical adjustments, not a withdrawal of support for India’s AI vision.” However, the optics of the pivot coming amid heightened media attention to the Epstein files have generated scrutiny on social platforms and in international press, with commentators noting the sensitivity of high-profile appearances against the backdrop of reputational controversy, however tangential.
Analysts observing the summit’s proceedings said the pivot underscored the complex environment in which global technology leaders now operate where innovations in AI and digital policy are increasingly intertwined with reputational and geopolitical considerations.
Bill Gates’ scaled-back role will inevitably be one of the defining talking points of this year’s gathering, even as the focus shifts back to the substantive work of shaping the future of artificial intelligence.
