web counter
LEXO PA REKLAMA!

SHKARKO APP

App Store
Google Play

Bill Gates withdraws from AI summit in India amid Epstein controversy

2026-02-19 09:06:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

Bill Gates withdraws from AI summit in India amid Epstein controversy

Bill Gates will not deliver his scheduled keynote address at the Artificial Intelligence Impact Summit in Delhi, India. The Gates Foundation announced the news, saying the decision was made after careful consideration and to ensure the focus remains on the summit's key priorities, but it did not provide details.

Gates' withdrawal of the speech comes amid a controversy over his ties to sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, after he was named in new files released by the US Department of Justice in January.

A spokesman for Gates called the allegations in the dossier "absolutely absurd and completely false," and the billionaire said he regretted spending time with Epstein. Gates has not been accused of wrongdoing by any of Epstein's victims, and the appearance of his name in the dossier does not imply criminal activity of any kind.

The Gates Foundation said Ankur Vora, president of its Africa and India offices, would speak at the summit in the billionaire's place. His withdrawal is a blow to the summit, which India has pitched as a key meeting to position the country as a global hub for artificial intelligence.

Delegates from more than 100 countries, including several heads of state, are attending the event, which has been marred by controversy over mismanagement on the first day and claims by an Indian university that it developed a robot dog that turned out to be manufactured in China.

The five-day summit includes policy discussions, startup presentations and closed-door meetings on AI governance, infrastructure and innovation. The event has also seen investment pledges from companies, including Microsoft, to expand access and infrastructure to AI in countries like India. /CNA

 





Lajmet e fundit nga