Bill Gates to Skip AI Impact Summit; Ankur Vora to Represent Gates Foundation

Following the controversy surrounding his name in the Epstein files, Bill Gates will no longer lead the Gates Foundation’s participation at the AI Impact Summit. The foundation announced that Gates will not deliver his scheduled speech on February 19. Instead, Ankur Vora, President of the foundation’s India and Africa offices, will represent the organization at the summit. The statement reaffirmed the Gates Foundation’s commitment to shared goals in health and development.

Background

Just two days prior, reports surfaced indicating that Gates would not attend the summit, and his name was removed from the list of speakers on the event website. The Indian government did not provide an official response regarding his absence.

Government Response

In a press briefing, Union IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw stated that attendance at the summit is a personal decision, and he would not comment further. Meanwhile, the Gates Foundation issued a separate statement clarifying the matter.

Earlier Statement by Gates Foundation

Initially, the foundation had confirmed that Bill Gates would attend the AI Impact Summit and deliver his scheduled speech, highlighting India as a global leader in Artificial Intelligence.

Epstein File Controversy

The recent release of the Jeffrey Epstein files by the U.S. Department of Justice mentioned Bill Gates multiple times, triggering sharp reactions from several opposition leaders in India. The development appears to have influenced Gates’ decision to step back from the summit.

With Ankur Vora now at the helm for the AI Impact Summit, the Gates Foundation continues its work in India and Africa while Gates’ presence remains absent from the event’s proceedings.