New Delhi: Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates will not attend the upcoming India AI Impact Summit, government sources confirmed on Tuesday. His name has been removed from the official list of keynote speakers for the week-long event. The decision comes days after fresh scrutiny over his past association with disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein.
Sources told NDTV that the government reviewed Gates’ invitation following renewed public debate around the so-called Epstein Files. Officials indicated that the move reflects a decision to “stand with the survivors.” Gates’ name surfaced in documents released earlier this year by the United States Department of Justice.
Gates apologises over Epstein association
The files, made public in January, include references to several high-profile figures. In one set of documents, Epstein allegedly made claims about Gates’ personal life. There is no evidence in the released material of criminal wrongdoing by Gates.
Last week, Gates addressed the controversy in an interview with 9News Australia. “Every minute I spent with him, I regret, and I apologise,” he said. Gates has previously described his meetings with Epstein as a serious mistake in judgment.
Jeffrey Epstein, a convicted sex offender, died by suicide in a New York jail in August 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges. The case has continued to draw global attention, with periodic releases of previously sealed court records.