India AI Impact Summit 2026: Bill Gates Skips Keynote Address At Summit ‘To Ensure Focus Remains On…’

India AI Impact Summit 2026: Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates will not address the AI Impact Summit 2026, confirmed Gates Foundation hours before the American business magnate's speech at Bharat Mandapam on Thursday, February 19.

"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," read a statement by Gates Foundation India. The statement also gave details on who will give the keynote address at the summit in place of Bill Gates.

Who Will Address AI Summit From Gates Foundation?

Ankur Vora, President of Africa and India Offices, will represent the Gates Foundation. He will speak at the summit later on Thursday.

"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."
The Gates Foundation did not provide any clarity on the exact reasons behind the cancellation of Bill Gates address at AI Summit. Meanwhile, the 70-year-old business magnate continues to remain at the centre of controversy related to his links with convicted child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

The recent details released in the Jeffrey Epstein case revealed Bill Gates' links with the disgraced financier Epstein.

Bill Gates At AI Summit

Bill Gates was listed as a keynote speaker on Thursday, February 19. Additionally, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to attend the AI Summit at 9:40 am on Thursday. He is also supposed to visit the AI Impact Expos at the summit alongwith other leaders at around 11 am.

Gates was also listed as a keynote speaker on February 19. He was given a 12-minute speaking slot at 11:50 am. He came to India on Monday and went to Vijaywada, where he met Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, Deputy Chief Minister K Pawan Kalyan, and senior state government officials.

India AI Impact Summit

The India AI Impact Summit 2026 began on February 16 and is set to conclude on February 20. The global event garnered significant attention for its high profile guest lists and even controversies linked to claims of mismanagement, and Noida-based Galgotias University, making claims linked to a robot dog.

Meanwhile, India AI Impact Summit 2026 entered the Guiness World Records for the highest number of pledges taken by students for the responsible use of AI within 24 hours, the British record-keeping entity said on Wednesday.Guinness World Records Adjudicator Pravin Patel announced that a total of 2,50,946 pledges were received during the summit against a target of 5,000.