Gates Foundation Confirms Bill Gates Will Attend India AI Impact Summit Despite Speculation

Bill Gates, chair of the Gates Foundation, will participate in the India AI Impact Summit in New Delhi and deliver his keynote address as originally scheduled, a foundation spokesperson confirmed to Mint on Tuesday, dismissing earlier reports that he would skip the event.

The clarification came after confusion arose when Gates’ name temporarily disappeared from the summit’s website, fueling speculation about his attendance. Several media outlets had reported that Gates would not attend the high-profile event running from February 16 to 20, which has brought together technology executives, industry leaders, policymakers, and innovators.

“Media reports claiming that Bill Gates will not be attending the AI Impact Summit are incorrect,” the Gates Foundation spokesperson told Mint. “He is participating as planned and will be delivering his keynote as scheduled.”

The temporary removal of Gates’ name from the “Key Attendees (Visionaries on the Global Stage)” section of the summit website led to widespread speculation. Some political figures, including Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Priyanka Chaturvedi, shared screenshots showing Gates’ name had been removed from the list, with Chaturvedi even thanking the Ministry of Electronics & IT, the event host, for supposedly “dropping” Gates from the program.

The speculation intensified against the backdrop of Gates being mentioned in recently released files related to the late Jeffrey Epstein, the disgraced financier and convicted sex offender. However, it’s important to note that Gates has not been accused of wrongdoing by any of Epstein’s victims. Records released by the U.S. Department of Justice include an allegation by Epstein that Gates contracted a sexually transmitted disease, a claim that a Gates spokesperson has described as “absolutely absurd.”

Prior to the summit, Gates arrived in Andhra Pradesh on Monday, where he met with several officials, including Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu. His continued presence in India lent credence to the foundation’s assertion that he would fulfill his summit commitments.

The uncertainty surrounding Gates’ attendance follows another high-profile change to the summit’s lineup. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, who had been promoted as one of the event’s major attractions, recently announced he would no longer travel to India for the gathering. While Nvidia did not provide an official reason for Huang’s withdrawal, some speculated it might be connected to Gates’ expected presence, though no evidence has emerged to support this theory.

The India AI Impact Summit, organized by the Ministry of Electronics & IT, represents India’s ambitions to position itself as a global player in artificial intelligence development and implementation. The five-day event focuses on exploring AI’s potential impacts across various sectors, including healthcare, education, agriculture, and governance.

India has been actively promoting its digital infrastructure and technological capabilities to attract investment and partnerships in emerging technologies. The country’s large talent pool of engineers and scientists, combined with its growing digital economy, makes it an increasingly important market for global tech companies exploring AI applications.

As the summit continues, participants are discussing both the opportunities and challenges presented by AI technologies, including issues of ethics, governance, and ensuring equitable access across different segments of society. Gates’ keynote is expected to address some of these themes, particularly relating to AI applications in global development and healthcare, areas where the Gates Foundation has been actively involved.