Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates has pulled out of India’s high-profile AI Impact Summit in Delhi, with the Gates Foundation citing a desire to “ensure the focus remains on the summit’s key priorities” amid renewed scrutiny over his ties to the late Jeffrey Epstein.

The withdrawal came after newly released court documents reignited public debate about the nature and extent of Gates’ relationship with Epstein, who died in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.

Gates’ absence was notably felt at the summit, which brought together tech leaders, government officials, and researchers from across Asia to discuss AI governance, safety, and development priorities for the Global South.

The US delegation, led by a senior White House advisor, used the summit to push back against proposals for binding international AI regulations, stating: “We totally reject global governance of AI.”

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi used his keynote address to position India as a bridge between Western and Chinese approaches to AI regulation, proposing a framework that balances innovation with ethical safeguards.