Bill Gates Cancels Keynote at New Delhi AI Summit Amid Epstein Controversy
The decision, announced by the Gates Foundation on Thursday, February 19, 2026, comes as the billionaire faces renewed scrutiny over his past ties to the late financier Jeffrey Epstein following the recent release of the "Epstein Files."
The Gates Foundation clarified that the cancellation was a strategic choice to "ensure the focus remains on the AI Summit's key priorities" rather than on personal controversies. While Gates withdrew from his 11:50 AM speaking slot at Bharat Mandapam, the Foundation reiterated its commitment to India's health and development goals. Ankur Vora, President of the Foundation’s Africa and India offices, will represent the organization and speak in his place.
The five-day summit, a landmark event for the Global South, features high-profile leaders including Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, French President Emmanuel Macron, and tech titans such as Sundar Pichai (Google) and Sam Altman (OpenAI). Despite arriving in India earlier this week for visits in Amaravati, Gates' inclusion in the New Delhi summit had drawn sharp criticism from opposition political parties, prompting the last-minute change in the official program.
