Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates will attend the India AI Impact Summit and deliver his keynote address as scheduled, his team confirmed, putting an end to speculation over his participation.
Confusion began after Gates’ name briefly disappeared from the official speakers’ list, leading to reports that he might skip the event. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation later clarified that his travel and speaking plans remain unchanged and that he will be present at the summit on February 19.
The uncertainty followed public discussion around newly released documents linked to the late financier Jeffrey Epstein in which Gates’ name was mentioned. While there have been no allegations of wrongdoing against him, the development triggered online debate and questions over his appearance at the high-profile gathering.
Despite the controversy, Gates has already arrived in India and continued with his scheduled engagements. During his visit, he met Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and held discussions on technology, health and development initiatives, signalling that his broader India programme is proceeding as planned.
His keynote is expected to be one of the central attractions of the summit, which has brought together global technology leaders, policymakers, researchers and industry executives to discuss artificial intelligence, innovation and international collaboration. The event is part of India’s push to position itself as a major hub in the global AI ecosystem.
The summit has also seen a change in its star lineup earlier, with Jensen Huang unable to attend due to prior commitments, though his company is being represented by a senior delegation.
Also Read: Media flags AI threat to news revenue
