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Tech leader Bill Gates will no longer address the AI Impact Summit, with the Gates Foundation confirming that Ankur Vora will speak instead. The high-profile event in New Delhi brings together global leaders, policymakers, and innovators to discuss artificial intelligence, partnerships, and development priorities.
Gates Foundation Confirms Change in Speaker Line-Up at Global AI Event
New Delhi: Important information has emerged regarding Bill Gates’ participation in the AI Summit. The Gates Foundation has confirmed that Gates will no longer attend the event. The announcement was made by the foundation’s India office, stating that the decision was taken after careful consideration to ensure complete focus on the summit’s core priorities.
Despite this change, the Gates Foundation’s involvement in the event will continue. Ankur Vora, President of the foundation’s Africa and India offices, is scheduled to address the summit later today. The foundation emphasized that the adjustment aligns with the program’s direction and primary agenda.
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The AI Summit is a global forum discussing issues, innovations, and partnerships related to artificial intelligence. There was initial speculation about Bill Gates' absence, but the Foundation's official statement has clarified the situation. All eyes will now be on what issues related to AI and global development Ankur Vora highlights in his address.
There was confusion regarding Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates' participation in the AI Impact Summit, which began on February 16th. Gates' name was included in the list of keynote speakers on the summit's official website. However, his name was suddenly removed from the list, leading to speculation that Gates would not attend the summit.
— Gates Foundation India (@BMGFIndia) February 19, 2026
Amidst the controversy, the Gates Foundation confirmed Bill Gates' participation in an X-post on Tuesday. It stated that he would attend the summit and deliver his keynote address as scheduled. The Foundation stated that there was no change to his participation.
Bill Gates was scheduled to deliver his keynote address on February 19th. According to the schedule, he was allotted 12 minutes of time at 11:50 am on February 19th.
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When Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnav, who is leading the summit, was asked about Bill Gates at a press conference, he dismissed it as a "personal choice" instead of giving a direct answer. He said, "I forget who is coming and who is not. It's a personal choice, and I don't need to comment on it."
There is talk that there is some hesitation in government circles due to Bill Gates' name appearing in files related to Jeffrey Epstein. Although Gates has not been accused of any wrongdoing, records released by the US Department of Justice mention some old claims, which Gates' spokesperson has already dismissed as completely absurd.
