Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates will attend the India AI Impact Summit in New Delhi and deliver his scheduled keynote address, the Gates Foundation confirmed on Tuesday. The clarification came after reports suggesting that Gates had withdrawn from the summit due to the ongoing Epstein controversy.
The reports stem from newly released files by the US Justice Department, which allege that Gates asked one of his advisers for medication to treat sexually transmitted diseases, reportedly from "sex with Russian girls." Gates’ spokesperson has called these allegations "absolutely absurd and completely false."
Speculation about Gates' attendance grew after his name was found missing from the summit's speaker list on Tuesday.
Earlier last week, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang also cancelled his plans to attend the summit. While Nvidia did not provide an official reason, some speculated his withdrawal could be linked to Gates' involvement in the event. Huang had been one of the key attractions at the summit.
"Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, AI has become central to India’s vision of Viksit Bharat, driving inclusive growth and responsible innovation," it said. "India’s distinctive public-private model, bringing together government, startups, academia, and industry, is proving that AI can be built for impact, for inclusion, and for the world."
Meanwhile, Gates is currently on a tour of Andhra Pradesh, where he praised the state's innovations in health, agriculture, and education. In a post on X, Gates thanked Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu for the warm welcome, saying, "It’s exciting to witness Andhra Pradesh's growth being accelerated through AI, technology, and innovations across health, agriculture & education."
During his visit to the state’s capital, Amaravati, Gates engaged in several activities, including a meeting with the Chief Minister and officials to review presentations on the use of technology in governance. He also visited a banana orchard near the Krishna River in Undavalli village, located in Guntur district.
