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Day after confirmation, Gates skips AI summit amid Epstein storm
Hindustan Times Thane
|February 20, 2026
Microsoft co-founder and Chair of the Gates Foundation Bill Gates was a no-show at the AI Impact Summit in New Delhi on Thursday, despite the Foundation stating just a day earlier, when Gates was in Mumbai, that he would deliver his keynote speech as planned.
Bill Gates
On Thursday morning, the day of the Summit's inauguration, when Gates was supposed to deliver his scheduled keynote, the Gates Foundation India handle on X issued a statement.
It said, “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. The Gates Foundation remains fully committed to our work in India to advance our shared health and development goals.”
This story is from the February 20, 2026 edition of Hindustan Times Thane.
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