Foundation says move aimed at keeping focus on event priorities
February 19, 2026: Bill Gates will no longer deliver the keynote address at the India AI Impact Summit in New Delhi, his philanthropic organisation, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, confirmed on Wednesday. In a statement posted on X, the foundation said the decision was taken to ensure that attention remains on the summit’s key themes. “After careful consideration, and to keep the focus on the AI Summit’s key priorities, Mr Gates will not be delivering his keynote address,” the statement read, adding that the organisation remains committed to its health and development initiatives in India.
The foundation said it will instead be represented by Ankur Vora, president of its Africa and India offices, who is scheduled to speak at the six-day summit. The clarification came after speculation grew when Gates’ name did not appear on the official list of prominent participants at the event.
The development follows renewed scrutiny linked to documents released by the US Justice Department concerning disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein, who died in a New York jail in 2019. Millions of pages of Epstein’s communications were made public, referencing interactions with several high-profile figures, including Gates. A spokesperson for Gates told NPR that the allegations are “absolutely absurd and completely false,” stating the documents show Epstein’s attempts to misrepresent his relationship with the Microsoft co-founder.