To ensure focus remains on summit priorities, says Gates Foundation
The announcement came as a surprise because two days ago, the Gates Foundation had said Bill Gates would attend the AI Impact Summit and deliver his keynote address as planned.
Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates. (File Photo) Facing renewed scrutiny over his ties to the late Jeffrey Epstein, the convicted sex offender and financier, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates withdrew from a scheduled keynote address to the India AI Impact Summit in New Delhi Thursday.
Without citing any reason, the Gates Foundation, in a statement hours before the address, said: “After careful consideration, and to ensure the focus remains on the AI Summit’s key priorities, Mr Gates will not be delivering his keynote address. The Gates Foundation will be represented by Ankur Vora, President of Africa and India Offices, who will speak later today at the Summit.”
“The Gates Foundation remains fully committed to our work in India to advance our shared health and development goals,” it stated.
The announcement came as a surprise because two days ago, the Gates Foundation had said Bill Gates would attend the AI Impact Summit and deliver his keynote address as planned.
Gates arrived in India on February 16. His first stop was Amaravati in Andhra Pradesh where he met Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, Deputy Chief Minister K Pawan Kalyan and senior state officials.
While Gates was being feted in Andhra Pradesh, shadows were gathering over his Delhi visit. There was already talk about his participation at the AI summit given that he had been named in documents related to Epstein which were released by the US Department of Justice. Gates admitted to meeting Epstein but denied any improper conduct.
On February 17, IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw was asked at a press conference whether Gates would be participating in the summit. In response, he said, “Regarding who’s attending, who’s not attending… that’s personal choices which people make, (about) which we should not comment, and I need not comment on that.”
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