The Gates Foundation confirmed on Thursday that its chairman, Bill Gates, will not attend the India AI Impact Summit 2026, where he was scheduled to deliver a keynote on the fourth day. “After careful consideration, and to ensure the Summit remains focused on its key priorities, Mr. Gates will not deliver his keynote address. The Gates Foundation will be represented by Ankur Vora, President of Africa and India Offices, who will speak later today,” the foundation said. It added that it remains fully committed to advancing health and development initiatives in India.

Earlier reports had suggested Gates would skip the Summit during his visit, but the foundation initially denied this, confirming he would deliver the keynote as planned. Gates arrived in India earlier this week, visiting Andhra Pradesh and meeting Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, Deputy Chief Minister K. Pawan Kalyan, and other senior officials to inaugurate projects supported by the Gates Foundation. Gates’ absence from the Summit comes amid public attention following his mention in the recently released Epstein files, which include over three million documents. Some emails reportedly claim that Gates sought Epstein’s assistance for sexual encounters and medical treatment related to sexually transmitted infections.

A spokesperson for Gates dismissed the allegations as “false and absurd,” stating that the documents only reflect Epstein’s frustration at not having a relationship with Gates and his attempts to entrap and defame him. The foundation emphasized that Gates’ work in India continues unabated, with ongoing initiatives aimed at improving public health, education, and development outcomes across the country.

Disclaimer: This image is taken from Hindustan Times.