Tech billionaire Bill Gates has become a source of controversy at the New Delhi AI Impact Summit after withdrawing from a scheduled keynote appearance amid renewed scrutiny over his past association with Jeffrey Epstein.
The decision came after days of confusion surrounding his participation, with Indian media initially reporting that his name had been quietly removed from summit materials.
Gates Foundation Confirms Withdrawal
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation India office confirmed Thursday that Gates would skip the address “after careful consideration” to ensure focus remained on the summit’s key priorities. A foundation representative was named as his replacement.
A spokesperson clarified that Gates has acknowledged meeting Epstein was “a serious error in judgment” but strongly denied any wrongdoing.
“He never visited Epstein’s island, never attended parties with him, and had no involvement in any illegal activities,” the spokesperson stated.
Why the Controversy?
The controversy intensified following a recent document release under the Epstein Files Transparency Act by the U.S. Department of Justice. The files reportedly included a draft email in which Epstein suggested he facilitated extramarital affairs and encounters for Gates.
Gates has publicly rejected those claims. In an interview with Australia’s 9News, he called the allegations “absolutely absurd and completely false,” adding that his meetings with Epstein were limited to philanthropy-related dinners and that he “never met any women” through him.
Epstein, who died in 2019 while awaiting trial, remains one of the most high-profile figures linked to global power networks and misconduct allegations.
Back-and-Forth Over Attendance
The situation grew murkier earlier in the week:
- Summit materials reportedly removed Gates’ name.
- Government sources suggested he was not expected to attend.
- The Gates Foundation initially insisted he would participate “as planned.”
- The withdrawal was formally confirmed shortly afterward.
When asked about Gates’ presence, India’s IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw described attendance as a “personal choice” and declined further comment.
High-Profile Summit, High Stakes
The New Delhi AI Impact Summit featured global technology and political leaders, including:
- Sundar Pichai, CEO of Alphabet Inc.
- Sam Altman of OpenAI
- Dario Amodei of Anthropic
- French President Emmanuel Macron
- U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres
Gates’ absence stood out particularly because the foundation has invested heavily in Indian health, development, and emerging AI initiatives.
Factcheck USA Conclusion
The episode highlights the reputational risks facing global tech leaders as renewed legal disclosures revive past associations. Even absent formal charges, the release of communications tied to Epstein has sparked renewed public and political scrutiny.
For India — positioning itself as a rising AI powerhouse — the summit was meant to spotlight innovation and global collaboration. Instead, Gates’ withdrawal briefly shifted attention from artificial intelligence to unresolved questions from a controversial past