Bill Gates pulls out of AI Summit hours before his keynote address

Bill Gates has pulled out of the ongoing AI Summit in Delhi just hours before he was scheduled to deliver his keynote address and will be replaced by Ankur Vora, said the Gates Foundation.

"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. The Gates Foundation will be represented by Ankur Vora, President of Africa and India Offices, who will speak later today at the Summit," said the official statement.

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"The Gates Foundation remains fully committed to our work in India to advance our shared health and development goals," added the foundation.

Gates was listed as a keynote speaker on February 19 - the day all the bigwigs will descend at Bharat Mandapam. He was given a 12-minute speaking slot at 11:50 am.

Gates arrived in India on Monday. His first stop during the visit was Vijayawada, where he met Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, Deputy Chief Minister K Pawan Kalyan, and senior state government officials.

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Ministers Nara Lokesh, Vangalapudi Anitha, K Archannaidu, and Y Satya Kumar had welcomed Gates at the Vijayawada international airport on Monday.

This week's AI Impact Summit is the fourth annual gathering to discuss how to govern the fast-evolving technology -- and also an opportunity for India to raise its profile in the booming sector.

Epstein files and Gates

The cancellation follows the release of emails last month that revealed exchanges between late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and staff members of the foundation.

The documents indicate Gates and Epstein met repeatedly after Epstein's prison term to discuss expanding Gates' philanthropic efforts. Gates has said the relationship was confined to ‌philanthropy-related discussions and that it was a mistake for him to meet with Epstein.

The Gates Foundation, ⁠the philanthropic organization started by Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates and his then-wife in 2000, is one of the world's biggest funders of global health initiatives. Bill Gates is chair and board member of the foundation.