Bill Gates Abruptly Pulls Out of India AI Summit Amid Renewed Epstein Files Scrutiny
New Delhi, India – Microsoft co-founder and philanthropist Bill Gates canceled his keynote speech at a major AI summit in New Delhi just hours before the event, citing the need to keep the focus on the conference’s priorities. The sudden withdrawal comes amid fresh controversy over his past associations with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, following the recent release of U.S. Department of Justice emails.[1]
Last-Minute Cancellation Shocks Organizers
The AI summit, a high-profile gathering aimed at advancing discussions on artificial intelligence’s role in global health and development, was set to feature Gates as a keynote speaker on Thursday. As recently as Tuesday, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation had confirmed his participation. However, Gates opted out at the eleventh hour, with the foundation sending Ankur Vora, president of its Africa and India offices, to represent the organization instead.[1]
“To ensure the focus remains on the AI Summit’s key priorities,” a Gates Foundation spokesperson told Fortune. The foundation emphasized its ongoing commitment to India, stating, “The Gates Foundation remains fully committed to our work in India to advance our shared health and development goals.”[1]
Epstein Connection Reignites Under Spotlight
Gates’s decision follows heightened scrutiny sparked by newly unsealed emails from the U.S. Department of Justice last month. The documents reveal multiple meetings between Gates and Epstein after the financier’s 2009 prison release for sex crimes. The conversations reportedly centered on Gates’s philanthropic ambitions, raising questions about the nature and extent of their relationship.[1]
Within the Gates Foundation, the revelations have caused significant unease. At a staff town hall on February 5, CEO Mark Suzman expressed personal discomfort, saying, “I feel somewhat sullied by just any association of Epstein with the work we do.” This internal reaction underscores the broader impact on the organization’s reputation and operations.[1]
Gates’s Limited Public Response
Since the emails surfaced, Gates has maintained a low public profile, with few appearances. In one rare interview earlier this month with 9 News Australia, he addressed the matter directly: “Every minute I spent with him, I regret, and I apologize that I did that.” This marks a continuation of Gates’s previous admissions of regret over the Epstein ties, which first drew public attention years ago.[1]
The controversy traces back to Epstein’s 2019 death while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges. Gates has previously acknowledged meeting Epstein on several occasions, primarily at the financier’s New York townhouse, in hopes of securing funding for global health initiatives. However, no evidence has emerged linking Gates to Epstein’s criminal activities.[1]
Foundation Seeks Path Forward
Insiders report that the Epstein files have unnerved foundation staff, prompting discussions on how to move forward. The organization, one of the world’s largest private philanthropies with a focus on global health, education, and poverty alleviation, now faces challenges in maintaining donor confidence and staff morale.[1]
Despite the setback, the Gates Foundation’s presence at the AI summit via Vora signals business as usual in key regions like India. The country has been a major focus for the foundation’s work in vaccination drives, agricultural innovation, and disease eradication efforts. Gates himself has visited India multiple times in recent years to oversee these initiatives.
Broader Implications for Tech Philanthropy
This episode highlights ongoing tensions in the intersection of technology, philanthropy, and personal scandals. Gates, whose net worth exceeds $130 billion, has positioned himself as a leading voice on AI ethics, climate change, and pandemic preparedness. His absence from the summit deprives attendees of insights from one of the field’s most influential figures at a time when AI governance is a global priority.[1]
Critics argue that the repeated surfacing of Epstein connections distracts from Gates’s substantive contributions, while supporters view it as an unfair revisiting of past mistakes. The foundation’s leadership is reportedly exploring ways to address staff concerns and reaffirm its mission amid the fallout.
AI Summit Proceeds Without Gates
The New Delhi event continued without Gates, drawing participants from tech, government, and nonprofit sectors. Discussions centered on AI’s potential to transform healthcare in developing nations, a topic close to the Gates Foundation’s mandate. Vora’s participation ensured the organization’s voice was heard, though the absence of the billionaire founder was notably felt.[1]
As the dust settles, questions linger about Gates’s future public engagements. With philanthropy under a microscope, the episode serves as a reminder of how past associations can influence present-day narratives, even for figures of Gates’s stature.
This story is developing, with the Gates Foundation yet to provide further details on Gates’s plans.