Artificial Intelligence

Gates Pulls Out of India AI Summit Amid Epstein Controversy

Is Gates' withdrawal from India's AI summit justified due to Epstein ties or an overreaction to a historic mistake?

FEB 20·Updated FEB 22

Gates Pulls Out of India AI Summit Amid Epstein Controversy

Story

Above: Bill Gates at an event in New Delhi on March 19, 2025. Image credit: Arun Sankar/AFP/Getty Images

The Facts

Bill Gates withdrew from delivering his keynote address at the India AI Impact Summit in Delhi on Thursday, hours before he was scheduled to speak. The decision was reportedly made to ensure "focus remains on the AI summit’s key priorities."
BBC News
The Telegraph
ThePrint
Gates's withdrawal follows rising controversy over his ties to Jeffrey Epstein, including the suggestion by Epstein in files released by the U.S. Department of Justice that Gates requested antibiotics to "surreptitiously give" his now ex-wife Melinda, after contracting an STD from unnamed "Russian girls."
Financial Times
Scroll.in
The Hill
The Telegraph
Gates has expressed regret over spending time with Epstein, but denies wrongdoing, while the Gates Foundation has stated that it remains "fully committed to our work in India to advance our shared health and development goals."
NDTV
Al Jazeera
Microsoft recently announced a $17.5 billion investment over four years to expand cloud and AI infrastructure in India, while Google has pledged $15 billion over the next five years, including plans for its first AI hub in the country.
CNBC
The Washington Times
The summit faced organizational issues on its opening day, with attendees reporting long lines and delays. A private Indian university was expelled from the summit after showcasing a Chinese-made robotic dog while claiming it as their own innovation.
Al Jazeera
The Washington Times
Ankur Vora, president of the Gates Foundation's Africa and India offices, delivered the address in place of Gates.
The Times of India
Deccan Herald

Sources Split

LEFT

CENTER

RIGHT

ESTAB
CRIT

CENTER

PRO
ESTAB

The Spin

Narrative A

Gates should never have been invited to India's AI summit in the first place given his prominent appearance in Epstein files and lack of clearance from any investigation. The Modi government's decision to host someone with such serious unresolved controversies shows pitiful moral rot. Social media pressure forcing this last-minute withdrawal proves India's AI and technological future deserves better than this tainted association.

Pragnya Gupta on X

Supriya Shrinate on X

Narrative B

Gates has clearly stated he regrets every minute spent with Epstein and only attended dinners focused on philanthropic fundraising for global health. The meetings ended in 2014; Gates never visited Epstein's island or met any women, and allegations like the fabricated email are absolutely absurd and completely false. More evidence will only clarify that while the association was a mistake, it had nothing to do with any wrongdoing.

Breitbart

Newsmax