• Bill Gates cancels keynote address at the India AI Impact Summit.
• The cancellation follows controversy regarding Gates' past relationship with Jeffrey Epstein.
• Ankur Vora will speak in Gates' place at the summit.
• The event features high-profile speakers, including India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
• The Gates Foundation remains committed to health and development initiatives in India.

Bill Gates has canceled his keynote address at the India AI Impact Summit scheduled for Thursday, a decision announced by the Gates Foundation to ensure that "the focus remains on the [summit's] key priorities." The cancellation is a significant setback for an event aimed at positioning India as a leader in artificial intelligence, amid ongoing controversies regarding Gates’ previous associations with Jeffrey Epstein, a convicted sex offender, according to Reuters, South China Morning Post, and BBC.

The controversy ignited following the release of new files by the U.S. Department of Justice which mentioned Gates in relation to Epstein. Gates has expressed deep regret for his past interactions with Epstein, stating, "Every minute I spent with him, I regret, and I apologise," according to reports from Reuters and South China Morning Post.

The Gates Foundation has subsequently stated that Ankur Vora, president of its Africa and India offices, will deliver the address instead of Gates. They reaffirmed their dedication to initiatives promoting health and development goals in India, which remains critical for the foundation’s mission, as mentioned by Reuters, South China Morning Post, and BBC.

Despite the setback, the summit will continue with numerous influential speakers, including Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who emphasized that India will play a significant role in the AI-driven future. Modi stressed the need for global cooperation to ensure that AI serves as a tool for inclusion and empowerment, particularly for the Global South, according to South China Morning Post and BBC.