Billionaire Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates will attend the AI Impact Summit and deliver his keynote address as scheduled, his spokesperson clarified on Tuesday, putting to rest speculation over his participation.
The clarification comes after reports suggested that Gates was not attending the ongoing AI Summit in Delhi, following his name reportedly missing from the event’s ‘Global Visionaries’ list. Government sources had earlier told News18 that Gates was not part of the summit due to “unavoidable reasons" amid the fallout related to the Epstein files.
“India is a global leader in artificial intelligence, powered by one of the world’s largest AI talent pools, rapid adoption across sectors, and innovation at a population scale. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, AI has become central to India’s vision of Viksit Bharat, driving inclusive growth and responsible innovation," the Gates Foundation mentioned in X.
“India’s distinctive public-private model, bringing together government, startups, academia, and industry, is proving that AI can be built for impact, for inclusion, and for the world," it further added.
Late last week, Nvidia said its CEO Jensen Huang will not travel to India to attend the Summit. Huang was one of the biggest attractions at the Summit.
The development coincides with Gates’ visit to India. He had earlier travelled to Andhra Pradesh, where he lauded the state’s growth driven by AI and technology. Following his visit to Amaravati, Gates expressed admiration for the southern state’s innovations in health, agriculture and education.
The AI Impact Summit 2026 at Bharat Mandapam was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, highlighting India’s commitment to responsible and inclusive Artificial Intelligence. The summit brings together policymakers, technology companies, innovators, academia and industry leaders, aiming to translate global AI discussions into actionable development outcomes under the IndiaAI Mission and the Digital India initiative.
