Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the India AI Impact Summit 2026 on February 19 in New Delhi, lauding India’s AI leadership and public-private partnerships driving inclusive growth. Speculation swirled around Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates’ participation, linked to recent Epstein files mentions, despite conflicting reports from government sources and his foundation.
Gates’ Confirmed Presence Clears Air
Gates Foundation India affirmed Gates would deliver his scheduled keynote, countering rumors after his name briefly vanished from speaker lists. Gates, in India for state engagements in Andhra Pradesh, aligns his development-focused AI work with summit themes on health, agriculture, and governance. This follows Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang’s last-minute withdrawal, heightening scrutiny on high-profile attendees.
Summit Highlights and Political Reactions
Hosted at Bharat Mandapam through February 20, the event draws global leaders like Sundar Pichai and Sam Altman to discuss AI governance and cooperation across 30+ countries. Modi emphasized AI’s role in Viksit Bharat, despite inaugural day glitches like overcrowding. Opposition voices, including Congress, questioned the Gates invite amid Epstein controversy, sparking political debate.
