Bill Gates abruptly canceled his scheduled appearance at India’s high-profile AI Impact Summit just hours before he was due to deliver a keynote address, as renewed scrutiny surrounding his past interactions with the late financier Jeffrey Epstein intensified following the release of U.S. Justice Department emails.
The decision marked another setback for the six-day summit in New Delhi, which has already faced organizational criticism and last-minute disruptions. Despite the controversy, the gathering secured more than $200 billion in artificial intelligence investment commitments, underscoring India’s ambition to position itself as a major global player in advanced technology development.
Gates, co-founder of Microsoft and a prominent global philanthropist, withdrew from the event to ensure that attention remained focused on the summit’s objectives, according to a statement from his foundation. The organization did not directly address whether the cancellation was tied to the renewed attention surrounding communications referenced in recently released federal documents. Gates has previously stated that his interactions with Epstein were related to philanthropic matters and described those meetings as a mistake.
His absence followed another notable withdrawal: Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang also canceled his participation earlier in the week. The summit had been promoted as a landmark AI forum for the Global South, bringing together political leaders, technology executives and investors.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi formally inaugurated the summit alongside French President Emmanuel Macron. In his address, Modi emphasized the need for responsible AI development, particularly when it comes to safeguarding children online. He called for structured oversight and family-oriented digital protections as artificial intelligence tools become more deeply integrated into everyday life.
A symbolic moment during the launch of the New Delhi Frontier AI Commitments — a set of voluntary principles designed to promote inclusive and responsible frontier AI development — drew attention when leading executives from competing AI firms stood side by side on stage in a show of unity. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman noted during the event that approximately 100 million users in India now access ChatGPT weekly, highlighting the country’s rapidly expanding digital footprint.
Major investment announcements were a centerpiece of the summit. Reliance Industries unveiled plans tied to AI infrastructure reportedly valued at $110 billion, while Tata Group confirmed a partnership agreement with OpenAI. These commitments contributed significantly to the event’s total investment tally, signaling strong corporate interest in India’s AI ecosystem.
However, the summit has also been shadowed by logistical challenges. Exhibition halls were unexpectedly closed to the public on one day of the event, frustrating companies that had set up booths and displays. Traffic disruptions across the capital, triggered by heightened security and road closures for VIP movement, sparked complaints from residents and attendees alike. Government officials later apologized for the inconvenience caused during the initial days.
Additional controversy emerged when an academic institution was asked to vacate its exhibition stall after a staff member allegedly presented a commercially available robotic device as an original development, prompting public criticism. Opposition parties also questioned the event’s management, arguing that planning missteps overshadowed its technological ambitions.
Even with the disruptions, the scale of financial commitments and the participation of global technology leaders reinforced India’s push to shape the future of artificial intelligence governance. The summit reflects the country’s broader strategy to attract large-scale infrastructure investments while asserting influence in the evolving regulatory and ethical framework surrounding AI systems.
As the event continues, organizers are seeking to shift attention back to innovation, cross-border collaboration and the long-term economic potential of AI — areas they argue will define India’s next phase of technological growth.
