Thu, 19 Feb 2026

Thu, 19 Feb 2026 Bill Gates pulls out of India's AI summit over Epstein files controversy

The Gates Foundation said the decision was made to "ensure the focus remains on the summit's key priorities".

* Bill Gates will not attend the India AI Impact Summit in Delhi, his foundation said, citing "careful consideration" and a desire to keep focus on summit priorities.
* The decision comes amid controversy over Gates' ties to Jeffrey Epstein, but Gates has denied any wrongdoing and expressed regret for spending time with Epstein.
* Ankur Vora, president of the Gates Foundation's Africa and India offices, will speak at the summit in Gates' place.
* Despite Gates' withdrawal, other high-profile speakers are attending the summit, including OpenAI boss Sam Altman, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, French President Emmanuel Macron, and UN chief Antonio Guterres.
* The summit has seen investment pledges from companies like Microsoft and Google, and discussions on AI governance, infrastructure, and innovation.
* Leaders at the summit have called for the democratization of AI, with Altman saying that centralizing AI in one company or country could lead to "ruin".
* Modi and Macron have also emphasized the need for a shared approach to innovation and the importance of making technology accessible to all.
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