Bill Gates to skip keynote address at AI Impact Summit; Gates Foundation says 'focus on priorities'

Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates will not deliver his scheduled keynote address at the AI Impact Summit here, Gates Foundation said on Thursday, putting to rest hours of speculation over his participation in the event.

In a statement issued by Gates Foundation India, the organisation 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 Gates Foundation will be represented by Ankur Vora, President of Africa and India Offices, who will speak later today at the Summit. The Gates Foundation remains fully committed to our work in India to advance our shared health and development goals,” it added.

The clarification came after Gates’ participation in the world’s biggest AI summit became a topic of intense speculation following conflicting reports from government sources and the foundation.

Gates had earlier featured among tech moguls, industry leaders, policymakers and founders listed as speakers on the official website of the AI Impact Summit, underway in the national capital since February 16.

However, on Tuesday morning, his name went missing from the key participants’ list.

A PTI report, citing government sources, initially said Gates would not attend the summit.

This was soon contradicted by a Gates Foundation spokesperson, who told PTI in an emailed response that Gates was indeed participating and would deliver his keynote as scheduled.

He had been listed as a keynote speaker for February 19, with a 12-minute speaking slot at 11.50 am at Bharat Mandapam.

Union Minister for Information & Broadcasting and Electronics & Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw, who is leading the AI summit, declined to give a direct answer on Gates’ participation when asked by reporters at a scheduled press conference.

“I forgot (like) many other things, regarding who’s attending, who’s not attending,” Vaishnaw said. “That’s personal choices which people make… I need not comment on that.”

Earlier in the day, media reports suggested Gates would not attend as his name figures in files linked to late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, which could cause discomfort. The key participants’ list was finalised months ago, while the Epstein-related disclosures emerged only in recent weeks.

While Gates has not been accused of wrongdoing by any of Epstein’s victims, records released by the US Justice Department include an allegation by Epstein that Gates had contracted a sexually transmitted disease, a claim Gates’ spokesperson has previously dismissed as “absolutely absurd”.

Gates arrived in India on Monday and made Vijayawada his first stop, where he met Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan, and senior state government officials.

He was received at the Vijayawada international airport by ministers Nara Lokesh, Vangalapudi Anitha, K Archannaidu and Y Satya Kumar.