NEW DELHI — Just hours before he was set to take the stage at Bharat Mandapam, the Gates Foundation released a statement announcing that Bill Gates would skip his 12-minute keynote address. The foundation cited a desire to keep the summit’s focus on technological and developmental priorities rather than the burgeoning controversy surrounding the chairman’s participation.
“After careful consideration, and to ensure the focus remains on the AI Summit’s key priorities, Mr. Gates will not be delivering his keynote address,” the official statement read.
Why the Change of Plans?
The cancellation follows a turbulent week for the summit’s organizers:
- The Epstein Files: Speculation intensified after documents released by the U.S. Department of Justice linked Gates to the late Jeffrey Epstein. Opposition leaders, including Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi, had vocally protested his inclusion as a “global visionary.”
- Website Scrubbing: Earlier this week, Gates’ name was briefly removed from the summit’s “Key Attendees” list on the official website, leading to conflicting reports from “government sources” (who said he was out) and the “Gates Foundation” (who initially insisted he was in).
- Andhra Visit vs. Delhi Exit: While Gates was warmly received in Amaravati by CM N. Chandrababu Naidu on Monday, the reception in New Delhi was far more polarized, prompting the “careful consideration” mentioned in today’s statement.
The Replacement
The Gates Foundation will now be represented by Ankur Vora, the President of Africa and India Offices. Vora is expected to address the summit during the scheduled midday session, focusing on the foundation’s ongoing commitment to healthcare and agricultural innovation through AI in India.
Summit Continues with Heavyweights
Despite Gates’ absence and the earlier withdrawal of Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, the fourth day of the summit remains the most significant:
- PM Narendra Modi is scheduled to deliver a keynote address at approximately 10:25 AM.
- Leaders from OpenAI, Google, and Microsoft (represented by other senior executives) remain on the agenda.