Microsoft co‑founder Bill Gates has pulled out of delivering the keynote address at India’s AI Impact Summit, dealing another blow to an event already beset by organisational problems and high‑profile no‑shows, Reuters reports.
The Gates Foundation said Gates would not deliver his scheduled keynote address “to ensure the focus remains on the AI Summit’s key priorities.” No further explanation was provided in the statement.
Gates’ withdrawal came hours before his appearance, compounding difficulties at the flagship summit in New Delhi that has faced complaints from delegates about traffic chaos, logistical lapses and other disruptions. The absence of other tech leaders, including Nvidia’s chief, has heightened criticism of the event’s execution.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other global tech figures, including Sundar Pichai of Google and Sam Altman of OpenAI, are still speaking at the summit, which aims to position India as a key voice in shaping global artificial intelligence standards.
The summit has also drawn scrutiny over issues such as a robot exhibit controversy and broader concerns about managing large international gatherings, underscoring logistical challenges amid India’s ambition to lead in AI development.