Bill Gates Pulls Out Of New Delhi AI Summit Amid Epstein Document Fallout

Billionaire philanthropist Bill Gates has withdrawn from his scheduled keynote at a major artificial intelligence summit in New Delhi following the release of newly surfaced documents connected to the late financier Jeffrey Epstein.

According to Ireporter Online, the Gates Foundation confirmed on Thursday that Gates’ withdrawal was intended to ensure that attention remained focused on the summit’s agenda. “After careful consideration, and to ensure the focus remains on the AI Summit’s key priorities, Gates will not be delivering his keynote address,” the foundation stated, emphasizing its continued commitment to health and development initiatives in India.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, along with leading technology executives, are expected to address the summit, highlighting both the opportunities and risks associated with artificial intelligence. The foundation added that the president overseeing its Africa and India operations would deliver remarks in Gates’ place.

The decision comes amid the release of a new tranche of documents by the U.S. Justice Department, which include emails involving several prominent figures and Epstein, who died in 2019. Among the documents was a draft email in which Epstein allegedly claimed that Gates engaged in extramarital affairs. Gates has denied the claims and questioned the authenticity of the email. “Every minute I spent with him, I regret, and I apologize,” Gates said in an interview with 9News Australia. “That email was never sent. The email is false. I don’t know what his thinking was there. Was he trying to attack me in some way?”

A spokesperson for Gates reiterated that the documents reflected Epstein’s personal frustration rather than evidence of wrongdoing. “The only thing these documents demonstrate is Epstein’s frustration that he did not have an ongoing relationship with Gates and the lengths he would go to entrap and defame,” the spokesperson said.

Meanwhile, Gates’ former wife, Melinda French Gates, said the release of the documents brought back difficult memories from their marriage. Speaking to NPR, she said, “The document dump brought back memories of some very, very painful times in my marriage. Whatever questions remain there… those questions are for those people and for even my ex-husband. They need to answer to those things, not me.” The couple finalized their divorce in 2021 after nearly three decades of marriage.