Bill Gates, co-founder of Microsoft Corp., withdrew from a scheduled keynote at India’s high-profile AI summit in New Delhi just hours before he was due to speak, Bloomberg reported. The Gates Foundation said the decision was made “after careful consideration, and to ensure the focus remains on the AI Summit’s key priorities,” in a post on X, without providing additional details.

The summit, launched this week, is part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s initiative to position India as a global hub for artificial intelligence and technology. In Gates’s absence, the foundation’s head for India and Africa will deliver the keynote. Microsoft has pledged $50 billion to support AI adoption in the global south, Bloomberg noted.

Gates’s withdrawal comes amid scrutiny over his past association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Gates has previously described the relationship as a “huge mistake” and expressed regret over dining with Epstein on multiple occasions. According to the Financial Times, Mark Suzman, CEO of the Gates Foundation, informed staff earlier this month that the connection with Epstein had “sullied” the organization’s reputation.

Representatives for the Gates Foundation declined to comment further beyond the public statement. The decision reflects the foundation’s effort to ensure the conference’s focus remains on AI and technology developments rather than external controversies.