The Gates Foundation on Thursday confirmed that Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates will not deliver his scheduled keynote address at the IndiaAI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi.

Gates had initially been listed as a keynote speaker for February 19, with a 12-minute address scheduled at 11:50 a.m. at Bharat Mandapam. However, his name was removed earlier this week from the official list of key participants on the summit website.

Reports suggested that government authorities were reassessing his participation following renewed attention surrounding references to Gates in the U.S. Justice Department’s Epstein-related records. Some sources indicated that the review was undertaken in view of sensitivities around the issue. The Gates Foundation, however, rejected these claims.

In an official statement, the Foundation said that after careful consideration, and to ensure the focus remains on the summit’s key priorities, Gates would not be delivering his keynote address. The Foundation added that it remains fully committed to its work in India to advance shared health and development goals.

Ankur Vora, President of the Foundation’s Africa and India Offices, will represent the organisation and address the summit instead.

The IndiaAI Impact Summit 2026 is being held from February 16 to 20 at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi. The event has drawn participation from more than 500 global AI leaders, 150 academicians and researchers, and around 400 chief technology officers, vice-presidents, and philanthropists.

The summit’s theme this year is “Sarvajan Hitay, Sarvajan Sukhay” (welfare for all, happiness for all). Seven working groups aligned with the three pillars — people, planet and progress — are steering discussions, focusing on measurable outcomes that demonstrate artificial intelligence’s impact across sectors.

The seven key themes include AI for Economic Growth and Social Good; Democratising AI Resources; Inclusion for Social Empowerment; Safe and Trusted AI; Human Capital; Science; and Resilience, Innovation and Efficiency.