The India AI Impact Summit in Delhi faced a major change on Thursday when Bill Gates decided not to give his planned keynote speech. This choice was made only hours before he was set to go on stage. The Gates Foundation said the move was meant to keep the focus on the summit’s main goals. However, the timing coincides with the release of legal documents by the U.S. Department of Justice. These documents include emails showing past meetings between Bill Gates and Jeffrey Epstein, a man convicted of sex crimes. While Bill Gates was already in India for the event, his sudden absence from the stage has raised questions about the impact of these files on his public work.
Timeline of Events and Key Figures
The summit was meant to show India’s growing power in the world of technology. Many global leaders were present to discuss how artificial intelligence (AI) should be used.
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January 2026: The U.S. Department of Justice releases emails showing communication between Bill Gates’ staff and Jeffrey Epstein.
February 17, 2026: The Gates Foundation tells the media that Bill Gates is in India and will give his speech as planned.
February 18, 2026: Reports of traffic jams and poor planning at the summit surface. Attendees are seen walking miles to reach the venue in Delhi.
February 19, 2026 (Morning): The foundation announces Bill Gates will not speak. Ankur Vora, the head of the foundation’s Africa and India offices, takes his place.
Key Actors:
Narendra Modi: Prime Minister of India, who called for safety on AI platforms.
Sundar Pichai: CEO of Google, who announced a new AI hub in Vishakhapatnam.
Jeffrey Epstein: The late financier whose past links to wealthy figures are being reviewed in new legal files.
Evidence from Legal Files and Official Statements
The primary reason for the increased attention on Bill Gates is a set of emails published by government officials. These documents show a history of contact that has led to public questioning.
"Mr. Gates acknowledges that meeting with Epstein was a serious error in judgment, [but] he unequivocally denies any improper conduct related to Epstein." — Statement via CNN
| Evidence Type | Details |
|---|---|
| Email Records | Documents show Bill Gates and Jeffrey Epstein met several times to discuss charity work after Epstein was released from prison. |
| Foundation Response | The foundation stated the withdrawal was "after careful consideration" to "ensure the focus remains on the summit's priorities." |
| Official Denial | Bill Gates has stated through his team that he had no involvement in Epstein's illegal activities. |
The core issue remains the timing of the withdrawal, occurring just as public discussion regarding the DOJ files intensified.
Sudden Change in Foundation Leadership Roles
Just one day before the keynote, the Gates Foundation insisted that Bill Gates would attend. The sudden shift to Ankur Vora as the speaker suggests a late change in strategy.
Did the foundation decide that his presence would distract from the AI discussions?
Was the decision made because of the specific content of the emails released by the Department of Justice?
The foundation has not given a detailed reason beyond wanting to keep the summit focused on AI. By having Ankur Vora speak, the organization maintained its presence at the event while keeping its founder away from the cameras and potential questions from the press.
The Conflict of Records and Denials
There are two main ways to look at the relationship between Bill Gates and Jeffrey Epstein based on the available reports.
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The Gates Perspective: He has admitted that meeting Epstein was a mistake. His team argues the meetings were only about raising money for global health. They state that the relationship was professional and focused on philanthropy.
The DOJ File Context: The emails show that the contact was not just a one-time event. There was coordination between staff members and several meetings took place. This has led some to ask why the meetings continued even after Epstein’s criminal history was well-known.
Operational Issues at the Delhi Summit
The summit faced other problems that added to the feeling of disorder. While global leaders like Emmanuel Macron and Sam Altman were present, the event struggled with basic logistics.
Logistics: Many people attending the summit had to walk long distances because roads were closed and no shuttle buses were provided.
Scientific Integrity: One university, Galgotias, was removed from the event. This happened after a staff member tried to show a Chinese-made robot dog as their own invention.
Focus on Safety: Prime Minister Modi used his time to warn about the dangers AI poses to children, moving the conversation toward regulation and safety.
Expert Analysis of the Situation
Observers of the tech industry have noted that the absence of a major figure like Bill Gates is rare for an event of this size.
Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google, chose to focus on the future of the region rather than the controversy. He announced that his firm is building a "full-stack AI hub" in Vishakhapatnam. He stated this would bring "cutting-edge AI" and new jobs to the country.
Legal analysts suggest that the release of the Epstein files has put high-profile people in a difficult position. While no new crimes have been charged against Bill Gates, the public nature of the emails creates a "reputation risk" that organizations often try to avoid during large public gatherings.
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Current Findings and Next Steps
The investigation into the events in Delhi shows a summit that was interrupted by both logistical failures and personal controversy.
Bill Gates remains in India but has stepped back from his public role at the summit.
The Gates Foundation continues to state that their work in India on health and development is still their main goal.
The U.S. Department of Justice files have created a situation where the history of these meetings is being looked at more closely by the public.
The summit has finished its major sessions, but the discussion about how leaders choose their associates remains a topic of debate.
The next steps will likely involve more questions for the Gates Foundation regarding the specifics of the emails and whether Bill Gates will return to giving public speeches in the near future.
Sources Used
BBC News: Report on Gates pulling out of the summit and Google's new AI hub.
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c309qv9zglno
CNN: Details on the DOJ files, the "error in judgment" quote, and the foundation's response.
https://www.cnn.com/2026/02/18/india/bill-gates-india-summit-keynote-intl-hnk
Fortune: Information regarding the ejection of Galgotias university and the robot dog incident.
https://fortune.com/2026/02/19/bill-gates-india-ai-summit-epstein-chaos/
The Straits Times: Reporting on the traffic chaos in Delhi and the list of attendees including Sam Altman.
https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/south-asia/bill-gates-cancels-keynote-address-at-india-ai-summit
South China Morning Post (SCMP): Official quotes from the Gates Foundation regarding the "careful consideration" of the withdrawal.
https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/south-asia/article/3343971/bill-gates-cancels-india-ai-impact-summit-speech-amid-epstein-storm
ABP Live: Context on the "Epstein Files Row" and the replacement speaker, Ankur Vora.
https://news.abplive.com/news/india/bill-gates-to-not-speak-at-ai-impact-summit-amid-epstein-files-row-1827776
