Bill Gates Withdraws From India AI Impact Summit Amid Organisational Turmoil
Bill Gates withdrew from India’s AI Impact Summit only hours before his scheduled keynote address on Thursday. As a result, organisers faced another setback at a flagship event already troubled by organisational lapses, a robotics controversy and widespread complaints over traffic disruptions.
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation confirmed that the billionaire would not deliver his speech. It stated that the decision aimed to ensure the focus remained on the summit’s key priorities. However, only days earlier, the foundation had dismissed rumours of his absence and insisted he would attend.
High Profile Absences Cloud Opening
Meanwhile, Narendra Modi is due to address the summit alongside Emmanuel Macron. Technology leaders including Sundar Pichai, Sam Altman and Dario Amodei also feature on the programme.
Nevertheless, Gates’ withdrawal follows another prominent cancellation by Jensen Huang. Consequently, the summit has struggled to maintain its initial momentum. Organisers had billed the gathering as the first major artificial intelligence forum in the Global South. Through the event, India sought to position itself as a leading voice in global AI governance. Instead, repeated setbacks have overshadowed that ambition.
Gates’ decision also comes after the U.S. Department of Justice released emails last month. These communications included exchanges between the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and staff at the Gates Foundation. The documents indicate that Gates met Epstein several times after Epstein served a prison term. They discussed expanding Gates’ philanthropic initiatives. Gates has said the meetings focused solely on philanthropy. He has also acknowledged that meeting Epstein was a mistake.
The Gates Foundation, established in 2000 by Gates and his then wife, remains one of the world’s largest funders of global health initiatives. Therefore, his absence has drawn significant attention.
Chaos And Traffic Snarls Disrupt Summit
At the same time, organisational issues have dominated headlines. India’s first major AI summit has generated more discussion about management failures than technological innovation. Attendees have expressed shock and frustration. Many described a lack of planning by authorities.
On Thursday, organisers shut the exhibition halls to the public without prior notice. This sudden move fuelled further anger among participants. Earlier, officials asked Galgotias University to vacate its stall after a staff member presented a commercially available robotic dog manufactured in China as an original creation.
Moreover, traffic chaos has gripped the city. Social media users have complained about extensive road closures. Police restricted routes to prioritise VIP movement. As a result, footage showed large groups of attendees walking long distances through central Delhi. They reported no available taxis and no shuttle services.
Together, these developments have cast a shadow over an event intended to showcase India’s ambitions in artificial intelligence leadership.
With inputs from Reuters