The India office of the Gates Foundation has officially confirmed that Bill Gates will participate in the India AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi and deliver his keynote address as originally planned. The clarification comes after online speculation suggested he might withdraw from the high-profile event.
In a statement shared on X, the Foundation said: “Bill Gates is attending the AI Impact Summit. He will be delivering his keynote as scheduled,” directly rejecting claims that he would not appear at the summit.
The Gates Foundation further described India as “a global leader in artificial intelligence,” pointing to the country’s large AI talent base and rapid adoption of artificial intelligence across industries. It also stated that under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, AI has become a central pillar of India’s “Viksit Bharat” vision, supporting inclusive development and responsible technological advancement.
The organization emphasized that Gates’ schedule remains unchanged despite online rumors that emerged after his name did not appear in certain sections of the summit’s digital speaker listings.
The Foundation also commended India’s collaborative public-private ecosystem, highlighting cooperation between government institutions, startups, academia and industry. According to the statement, this integrated approach shows how AI can be built “for impact, for inclusion, and for the world.”
The clarification was intended to decisively address doubts surrounding his attendance at the New Delhi gathering.
The renewed speculation comes amid social media discussions referencing documents related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, who died in prison in 2019. Gates’ name appears in portions of documents made public by the US Justice Department.
In one note referenced in the material, Epstein allegedly claimed he had helped Gates obtain drugs "to deal with consequences of sex with Russian girls." Gates has firmly denied the allegation.
In an interview with Nine News, he described the claims as “absolutely absurd and completely false.”
During a separate podcast interview with NPR, Melinda French Gates stated that her former husband’s interactions with Epstein were among the factors that contributed to the end of their 27-year marriage.
Although these references have resurfaced online, the Gates Foundation has reiterated that Gates remains committed to attending the AI summit as scheduled.
The India AI Impact Summit 2026 was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and is being held at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi from February 19 to 20.
The event aims to bring together global policymakers, technology leaders, researchers and industry stakeholders to discuss AI governance, regulatory frameworks and international cooperation. Delegates from more than 30 countries are participating in the two-day summit.
Prominent technology executives expected at the summit include Sundar Pichai of Alphabet Inc. and Sam Altman of OpenAI.
The opening day, however, encountered logistical challenges, including overcrowding and connectivity problems, which drew criticism from certain attendees.
Earlier in the week, Gates arrived in India and was received in Andhra Pradesh by Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and state minister Nara Lokesh.
Discussions during the visit focused on collaboration across healthcare, agriculture, education and technology-enabled governance. Naidu remarked that he revisited his long-standing association with Gates dating back to 1997, when he shared his vision for building a technology ecosystem in the state.
The talks were also linked to Andhra Pradesh’s “Swarna Andhra 2047” roadmap and potential partnerships with the Gates Foundation for development initiatives.
While government leaders emphasized cooperation and innovation, some political figures and online commentators criticized the welcome extended to Gates. Critics cited his name appearing in Epstein-linked documents and accused him of “treating India like a lab” for his products.
Despite the criticism, the Foundation’s clarification affirms that Gates remains scheduled to speak at the summit in Delhi.
Bill Gates stepped down as chairman of Microsoft in 2014. Since then, he has concentrated on global philanthropic initiatives through the Gates Foundation, supporting programs in public health, climate innovation, digital access and agricultural development.
His participation in the AI Impact Summit reflects his ongoing engagement with emerging technologies, particularly artificial intelligence’s potential to address large-scale global challenges.
The Gates Foundation’s latest statement effectively addresses speculation about Bill Gates’ absence from the India AI Impact Summit 2026. Despite renewed online discussions linked to Epstein-related documents, Gates is expected to deliver his keynote address as planned.
The summit underscores India’s expanding role in shaping the global AI conversation, focusing on governance, ethical innovation and international cooperation. With delegates from over 30 countries and leading global technology executives in attendance, the event highlights India’s ambitions in the AI domain.
As global discussions on AI regulation and responsible deployment continue to evolve, Gates’ participation signals sustained collaboration between philanthropic leadership and rapidly developing technology ecosystems.