Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates officially withdrew from his scheduled keynote at the India AI Impact Summit 2026 on Thursday. His absence was confirmed just hours before he was set to address global leaders at Bharat Mandapam, following a week of shifting statements and mounting public pressure.
While other tech titans like Sundar Pichai and Sam Altman dominated the stage, the Gates Foundation issued a statement citing a need to “ensure the focus remains on the AI Summit’s key priorities.” The foundation was instead represented by Ankur Vora, President of the organization’s Africa and India offices.
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The Last-Minute Withdrawal
The decision marks a sharp U-turn for the billionaire. Just 24 hours earlier, the Gates Foundation had dismissed rumors of his absence, insisting he would speak as planned. However, when the official stage photo session commenced Thursday morning, Gates was conspicuously missing.
Meanwhile, the summit website had briefly removed his name and photo earlier in the week, sparking initial speculation. Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw avoided direct comment on the matter, labeling attendance as a “personal choice.” In fact, the flip-flop suggests a “Plan B” was enacted only after it became clear that Gates’s presence might overshadow the event’s policy objectives.
The Epstein Files Controversy
The primary driver for the backlash is the ongoing fallout from the Epstein files. Recent disclosures in late January 2026 intensified scrutiny over Gates’s ties to the late financier Jeffrey Epstein. Viral social media posts questioned why the summit organizers chose to host Gates given the “taint” of these legal documents.
Next, while Gates has previously dismissed these allegations as “completely false,” the proximity of the summit to new court releases made his presence a lightning rod for criticism. Therefore, the foundation’s mention of “careful consideration” is widely interpreted as a move to prevent protesters from hijacking the summit’s narrative.
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“India as a Laboratory”: The Social Media Outrage
Beyond the Epstein controversy, an old clip from a 2024 podcast resurfaced this week. In it, Gates referred to India as a “laboratory” to prove out technologies before taking them to other parts of the world. While the context was related to public health innovation, critics on X (formerly Twitter) labeled the comments as insensitive and dehumanizing.
Furthermore, his recent high-profile visit to Amravati, where he met with Andhra Pradesh CM Chandrababu Naidu, provided fresh ammunition for detractors. Photos of a “beaming” Gates receiving a traditional welcome were met with sharp rebukes from those accusing him of using Indians as “lab rats” for experimental tech products.
Reality Check
The Gates Foundation remains “fully committed” to its Indian health projects. Still, the withdrawal proves that even the world’s most powerful philanthropists are now susceptible to the “cancel culture” of the AI era. Therefore, the exclusion of Gates was a strategic damage-control exercise for the Indian government, which is positioning the summit as a symbol of national sovereignty. In fact, having a speaker linked to global controversy would have directly clashed with PM Modi’s call for “trust and stewardship” in AI.
The Loopholes
The foundation claims Gates withdrew to “ensure focus.” In fact, government sources hinted that the invite might have been informally rescinded to avoid diplomatic embarrassment during the high-profile Leaders’ Plenary. Therefore, the “voluntary” nature of the withdrawal is likely a face-saving loophole. Still, Ankur Vora’s keynote covered the same development goals, effectively ensuring that the $15 billion in planned foundation spending remains unaffected by the founder’s personal scandals.
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What This Means for You
If you are a tech observer, realize that “Brand Gates” is facing its most significant reputational crisis in decades. First, monitor how this impacts the foundation’s ongoing partnerships with Indian state governments. Then, watch if other global summits adopt a similar “uninviting” policy for figures mentioned in the Epstein files.
Finally, understand that the “laboratory” comments have triggered a new wave of Data Sovereignty demands in India. You should expect stricter regulations on how foreign entities test AI-led healthcare solutions on Indian citizens. Before the end of the summit, follow the address by Ankur Vora to see if the foundation explicitly addresses the concerns of the Indian agricultural and health sectors.
What’s Next
Ankur Vora is scheduled to speak at the summit later today, February 19. Then, the Gates Foundation will likely issue a more detailed “Innovation Whitepaper” to move the conversation back to public health. Finally, the next major test for Gates’s public image will come during the G7 Summit later this year, where AI governance will again be a central theme.
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