Bill Gates backs out of India AI Impact Summit speech amid Epstein storm

Bill Gates has cancelled his speech that was scheduled for Thursday at a major AI summit in India, the Gates Foundation said, after the Microsoft co-founder was named in the Epstein files.“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,” the foundation said in a statement.“The Gates Foundation remains fully committed to our work in India to advance our shared health and development goals,” it said.Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and tech CEOs will speak about the opportunities and threats posed by artificial intelligence at the AI Impact Summit in New Delhi on Thursday.The Gates Foundation said the president of its Africa and India offices would speak instead.Gates this month said he regrets “every minute” he spent with Jeffrey Epstein, as his former wife Melinda said he still had questions to answer over his relationship with the late convicted sexual offender.