In a dramatic last-minute development at the India AI Impact Summit 2026, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates has withdrawn from his scheduled keynote address, with the Gates Foundation confirming his absence just hours before he was due to speak at the New Delhi gathering .

The foundation announced that Ankur Vora, President of its Africa and India operations, will represent the organization instead. "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 Gates Foundation stated on X .

Epstein document revelations cloud Gates' participation

The abrupt withdrawal comes amid renewed scrutiny over Gates' past associations with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Recently unsealed documents from the US Department of Justice have brought fresh attention to the Microsoft founder's connections with the late financier .

According to reports, the newly released materials include draft emails where Epstein allegedly claimed involvement in Gates' personal affairs. Gates has strongly denied these allegations, telling Australia's Nine News: "These claims are absolutely absurd and completely false... every minute I spent with him I regret and I apologize for that" .

The Gates Foundation had confirmed his attendance as recently as Tuesday, making Thursday's announcement particularly unexpected .

Summit loses second major tech leader

Gates' withdrawal follows Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang canceling his participation, though the company has not provided an official reason . The twin departures mark a setback for what organizers have billed as the Global South's first major AI forum.

Despite these high-profile absences, the India AI Impact Summit 2026 continues with robust participation. Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the event on Thursday at Bharat Mandapam, unveiling India's "MANAV Vision" for human-centric AI development .

India pushes democratization agenda

Speaking at the opening plenary, PM Modi emphasized AI's transformative potential while stressing the need for responsible development. "AI enhances machine intelligence and boosts human capabilities," he said, advocating for democratic access to AI technologies .

The summit has drawn over 100 countries and features leaders including French President Emmanuel Macron, Google CEO Sundar Pichai, and OpenAI's Sam Altman . India is expected to push for greater AI accessibility and open-source development, positioning itself as a voice for the Global South in global tech governance .

The six-day summit continues through February 20, with discussions focused on AI governance, infrastructure development, and inclusive growth strategies. The Gates Foundation has reiterated its commitment to India's health and development goals despite its chairman's absence .

The India AI Impact Summit 2026 was meant to be a showcase of India’s soaring technological prowess, but it has instead become the center of a heated national controversy. Galgotias University, a prominent private institution, was reportedly asked to vacate its pavilion after allegedly presenting a commercially available Chinese robot as a homegrown innovation.

What began as a viral social media clip has now escalated into a political firestorm, leading to the university’s stall being barricaded and its power supply cut off by summit organizers.

The 'Orion' vs. Unitree Go2 Fiasco

The controversy was sparked by a video from the summit floor showing a university representative, Professor Neha Singh, demonstrating a quadruped robot named “Orion.” In the footage, Singh claimed the robot was "developed by the Center of Excellence at Galgotias University" and was part of a massive ₹350 crore investment in AI.

However, tech enthusiasts and "eagle-eyed" netizens quickly identified the machine as the Unitree Go2, a mass-produced robotic dog manufactured by China’s Unitree Robotics. The robot, which features 4D LiDAR technology and advanced sensors, is available globally for approximately ₹2–3 lakh.

The backlash was swift, with social media platform X (formerly Twitter) attaching a Community Note to the university’s claims, labeling them as "misleading."

"Excitement and Enthusiasm": The University’s Defense

Following the uproar, Galgotias University issued a statement clarifying that it did not build the robot. The institution now describes the Unitree Go2 as a “walking classroom” intended for student research and experimentation rather than a proprietary product.

Professor Neha Singh later addressed the media, taking personal accountability for the miscommunication.

"I could not say it clearly in excitement. It all happened very quickly, in a state of enthusiasm," Singh stated, adding that the university’s intent was to inspire students by providing them with global technology.

Despite the apology, reports indicate that the summit organizers took stern action, forcing the university to leave the expo area to maintain the integrity of the national event.

Key Takeaways of the Controversy:

• The Robot: Identified as a Chinese-made Unitree Go2, rebranded by the university as "Orion."

• The Action: Organizers cut off power and barricaded the Galgotias stall at the India AI Impact Summit 2026.

• The Reaction: Social media users and tech experts accused the university of "passing off" imported tech as indigenous.

Political Backlash: "National Embarrassment"

The incident has provided fresh ammunition for the Opposition. The Congress party issued a scathing statement, accusing the government of turning the summit into a "laughing stock."

Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi took to social media to voice his criticism, stating:

“Instead of making proper use of India’s talent and data, this AI summit has become a haphazard PR spectacle—where India’s data is put up for sale, and Chinese products are being flaunted.”

Critics argue that allowing such a lapse at a high-profile event—attended by global leaders—damages India’s "Make in India" credibility in the critical field of Artificial Intelligence.

Conclusion: A Lesson in Academic Integrity

As the India AI Impact Summit 2026 continues in Delhi, the Galgotias incident serves as a cautionary tale for educational institutions. While utilizing global tools for research is standard practice, the line between "using" and "developing" must remain clear to protect both institutional and national reputation.

For now, the university labs in Greater Noida will remain the home for "Orion," while the academic community debates the ethics of innovation branding in the age of viral transparency.