New Delhi: Microsoft founder Bill Gates on Thursday withdrew from the AI Impact Summit and did not deliver his keynote address.Originally, Gates was supposed to be one of the keynote speakers at the event.
However, Gates faced criticism after his name appeared in parts of the Epstein files released by the US Department of Justice.
‘A very positive case study’: Meta AI President Alexander Wang lauds India’s AI startup ecosystem
In a post on X, the Gates Foundation said the organization would be represented by Ankur Vora, head of the Africa and India offices.“After careful consideration, and to ensure the focus remains on the key priorities of the AI Summit, Mr. Gates will not deliver his keynote address. The Gates Foundation will be represented by Ankur Vora, Head of the Africa and India Bureaus, who will speak later today at the Summit,” the Gates Foundation said.
“The Gates Foundation remains fully committed to our work in India to advance our shared health and development goals,” she added.Gates has featured among the tech tycoons, industry leaders, policy makers, founders and technologists listed as speakers on the official website of the AI Impact Summit, held in the national capital from February 16 to 20.This clarification comes against the backdrop of recent allegations against Gates that refer to documents linked to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, who died in prison in 2019.
Gates’ name appears in parts of documents issued by the US Department of Justice.In one note cited in the material, Epstein claimed he helped Gates obtain drugs “to deal with the consequences of having sex with Russian girls.” Gates categorically denied these accusations. In an interview with Nine News, he described it as “completely ridiculous and completely false”.In a separate interview with NPR, Melinda French-Gates said her ex-husband’s encounters with Epstein were among the factors that contributed to the end of their 27-year marriage.Government sources had previously reported that Gates would attend the meeting. However, a spokesperson for his organization contradicted this, saying: “Bill Gates is attending the AI Impact Summit. He will deliver his keynote as scheduled.”But the summit’s website on Tuesday did not show his name among the main speakers.
