Bill Gates Withdraws From India AI Impact Summit

Published: 20 Feb 2026

India’s AI Impact Summit drew global attention with large scale investment commitments and high level participation, but the narrative was reshaped by last-minute withdrawals from prominent technology leaders and a series of organizational lapses. While the event reinforced India’s ambition to influence global AI governance, controversy and logistical challenges diluted its policy messaging and overshadowed parts of the proceedings.

Bill Gates Withdraws From India AI Impact Summit

Bill Gates cancelled his scheduled keynote appearance just hours before taking the stage at the India AI Impact Summit. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation said the decision was made to ensure attention remained on the summit’s goals, as scrutiny intensified around Gates’ past interactions with the late financier Jeffrey Epstein following the release of US Justice Department emails. Senior foundation executive Ankur Vora addressed attendees in his place.

More High Profile Absences Add Pressure

Gates’ withdrawal followed an earlier cancellation by Jensen Huang, compounding challenges for an event promoted as a landmark AI forum for the Global South. The back-to-back pullouts raised questions about the summit’s momentum at a time when India was seeking to project leadership in global AI discussions.

Investment Announcements Remain a Bright Spot

Despite the setbacks, the summit announced more than 200 billion dollars in proposed investments for artificial intelligence infrastructure. Reliance Industries unveiled plans worth 110 billion dollars, while Tata Group confirmed a partnership with OpenAI, signaling strong corporate confidence in India’s AI potential.

Modi and Macron Emphasize Responsible AI

The event was inaugurated by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi alongside French President Emmanuel Macron. Modi focused on child safety and ethical oversight in AI systems and announced the New Delhi Frontier AI Commitments, a voluntary framework adopted by leading AI companies to guide responsible development.

Industry Unity Shows Visible Strain

Global AI leaders including Sam Altman and Dario Amodei attended the summit. A symbolic unity moment on stage attracted attention when executives from rival firms appeared hesitant, subtly reflecting competitive tensions within the rapidly evolving AI sector.

Organizational Lapses Trigger Criticism

The summit faced strong criticism over management issues, including abrupt closure of exhibition halls, severe traffic disruptions across New Delhi, and controversy involving a university presenting a commercially available robotic product as its own innovation. Opposition parties and participants accused organizers of sidelining researchers and builders in favor of VIP movement and optics.

Ambition Overshadowed by Execution Challenges

While the India AI Impact Summit succeeded in showcasing investment scale and international interest, leadership withdrawals and logistical missteps highlighted the difficulty of aligning global ambition with smooth execution. The event underscored both India’s growing influence in AI and the operational challenges that remain in hosting large-scale global forums.