Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates has abruptly withdrawn from a major keynote appearance at a high-profile artificial intelligence summit in India, as the expanding Jeffrey Epstein scandal continues to engulf powerful global elites.
The Gates Foundation confirmed that Gates would no longer deliver his scheduled keynote at India’s flagship AI summit following mounting backlash tied to his past association with Epstein.
“After careful consideration, and to ensure the focus remains on the AI Summit’s key priorities, Mr. Gates will not be delivering his keynote address,” Gates Foundation India said in a statement on X.
“The Gates Foundation will be represented by Ankur Vora, President of Africa and India Offices, who will speak later today at the Summit,” the foundation added.
— Gates Foundation India (@BMGFIndia) February 19, 2026
Gates had already traveled to India days earlier and met senior officials in Andhra Pradesh to discuss projects backed by his foundation.
Initial rumors suggested he might skip the event, but the foundation first insisted he would still attend, only to reverse course shortly afterward.
Epstein Scandal Tightens Grip on Global Power Network
The sudden withdrawal comes as newly released Epstein Files continue exposing links between the convicted sex trafficker and influential political, financial, and technology figures across the world.
Among the latest revelations drawing scrutiny is a newly surfaced 2011 email from Hollywood producer Barry Josephson referencing a disturbing question allegedly raised during a discussion involving Epstein and Gates, as Slay News reported.
The email, titled “your neice [sic],” quoted Epstein as asking:
“How do we get rid of poor people as a whole?”
Josephson claimed he had “an answer” before the exchange abruptly shifted to a discussion of a 16-year-old described as Epstein’s niece, including personal details and possible involvement in a film project.
The correspondence appears in U.S. Department of Justice material labeled DOJ Data Set 9 (EFTA01157206.pdf).
A spokesperson for Gates dismissed the claims as “absolutely absurd and completely false.”
Gates has previously acknowledged his relationship with Epstein and expressed regret.
“Every minute I spent with him, I regret,” Gates told Australia’s 9 News earlier this month.
Despite that statement, the scandal continues to deepen.
Reports indicate the Gates Foundation’s leadership has warned internally that Gates’s ties to Epstein significantly damaged the organization’s reputation.
Global Backlash Builds as Pressure Mounts
Gates’s planned appearance in India had already sparked outrage among opposition politicians and activists.
Some of whom have accused the billionaire of treating the country as a testing ground for experimental initiatives.
His withdrawal now signals how rapidly the Epstein fallout is reshaping the public standing of figures once treated as untouchable within global political and tech circles.
The controversy is unfolding alongside widening repercussions across Epstein’s network.
Billionaire Les Wexner recently said he had been “conned” by Epstein.
Meanwhile, Britain’s disgraced former Prince Andrew was arrested on Thursday morning amid explosive Epstein Files-related allegations tied to confidential government information.
Together, the developments point to an accelerating unraveling of one of the most consequential elite scandals in modern history.
AI Summit Proceeds Without Gates
With Gates sidelined, Ankur Vora replaced the toxic billionaire as the summit moved forward.
During the event, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged technology companies to prioritize child protection when developing artificial intelligence systems.
“Friends, from the beginning, we have to be more vigilant towards children’s safety,” Modi said.
“Just like a school syllabus is curated, AI spaces should also be child safe and family guided.”
But Gates’s absence overshadowed the gathering, underscoring how the Epstein revelations continue to reverberate across governments, corporations, and global institutions.
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