Bill Gates Skips India AI Summit Keynote

Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates will not deliver his scheduled keynote at the India AI Impact Summit 2026, organisers confirmed Thursday.

Gates’ participation in the summit had sparked speculation earlier this week due to conflicting reports. Government sources initially said he would not attend, but a Gates Foundation spokesperson later confirmed his participation in the summit.

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The summit’s official website listed Gates among leading global technology leaders, policymakers, founders, and innovators after it began on February 16.However, his name briefly disappeared from the list of key participants on Wednesday morning, leading to confusion.Organisers scheduled him to deliver a 12-minute keynote speech at 11:50 am on Thursday at Bharat Mandapam, where several international leaders and industry executives are participating.Union Minister for Information & Broadcasting and Electronics & Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw, who is spearheading the summit, did not provide a direct response regarding Gates’ attendance when questioned during a press conference.India is hosting the India AI Impact Summit 2026 from February 16 to 20, bringing together participating countries and global institutions.

The event underscores India’s commitment to multilateral collaboration and the use of artificial intelligence to address global challenges while promoting inclusive growth.Structured around three key pillars—People, Planet, and Progress—the summit also featured the inauguration of the India AI Impact Expo 2026 by the Prime Minister at Bharat Mandapam earlier this week.

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