Epstein Files row: Bill Gates to skip keynote address at AI Summit 2026

His philanthropic organisation, the Gates Foundation, will instead be represented by Ankur Vora, President of its Africa and India offices.

In an official statement, the foundation said, “After careful consideration, and to ensure the focus remains on the AI Summit’s key priorities, Mr. Bill 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,” the statement added.

The decision comes amid fresh controversy following the release of a new tranche of documents linked to Jeffrey Epstein, the late convicted sex offender. According to media reports, the documents contain unverified claims involving Gates, including allegations that he contracted a sexually transmitted disease following relationships with Russian women.

The documents, which reportedly include emails purportedly linked to Epstein, also allege that Gates attempted to conceal the infection from his then wife, Melinda French Gates, by secretly seeking antibiotics. However, these claims remain unsubstantiated.

Responding to the allegations, a spokesperson for Gates dismissed them as “absolutely absurd and completely false.”

The India AI Impact Summit 2026, which has drawn global leaders and technology executives, is being held from February 16 to 20 at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi.