New Delhi, Feb 17: Bill Gates will attend the AI Impact Summit 2026 at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, the Gates Foundation confirmed, dismissing media reports suggesting that the Microsoft co-founder would not be present. Gates remains on the list of key participants alongside leading technology figures such as OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and Google CEO Sundar Pichai.
“Bill Gates is attending the AI Impact Summit. He will deliver his keynote as scheduled,” a spokesperson from the Gates Foundation told Hindustan Times.
Separately, Gates praised Andhra Pradesh’s rapid development, highlighting how AI and technology are accelerating growth across the state.
Following his visit to Amaravati, he expressed admiration for the state’s innovations in health, agriculture, and education.
“Thank you for the warm welcome, N Chandrababu Naidu. It’s exciting to witness Andhra Pradesh’s growth being accelerated through AI, technology, and innovations across health, agriculture & education,” Gates wrote on X.
On Monday, Gates participated in several engagements in the greenfield capital city, including meetings with the Chief Minister and officials, reviews of technology-led governance initiatives, and a visit to a banana orchard along the Krishna riverbank in Undavalli village, Guntur district.
All About the India AI Summit
The AI Impact Summit 2026 is the first international AI summit in the Global South, envisioned as a platform to showcase artificial intelligence in action by bringing together policy, innovation, and large-scale implementation.
The Expo spans 10 arenas covering over 70,000 square metres and hosts global technology companies, startups, academic and research institutions, Union Ministries, state governments, and international partners.
Thirteen country pavilions highlight international collaboration in AI, including participation from Australia, Japan, Russia, the UK, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Serbia, Estonia, Tajikistan, and several African nations.
Over 300 curated exhibition pavilions and live demonstrations are organized across three thematic “chakras”—People, Planet, and Progress—showcasing AI’s broad impact across sectors.
More than 600 high-potential startups are participating, many of which are building globally relevant AI solutions already deployed in real-world settings. The Expo is expected to attract over 2.5 lakh visitors, including international delegates, and aims to foster global partnerships and business opportunities within the AI ecosystem. (Agency)
