Bill Gates Withdraws from AI Summit Amid Epstein Controversy

Bill Gates, co-founder of Microsoft, has withdrawn from a scheduled keynote address at a major AI summit in India, which was set to take place on Thursday. This decision comes amid controversy surrounding newly released documents from the U.S.

Justice Department that detail Gates' past association with Jeffrey Epstein. The documents include emails that suggest a friendship and financial dealings between Gates and Epstein, as well as allegations of an extramarital relationship.

Gates expressed regret over his time spent with Epstein and apologized for the situation, asserting that the allegations in the emails are false. Despite his withdrawal, the Gates Foundation remains committed to its health development initiatives in India.

The foundation's president will deliver an address in Gates' place at the summit, which is expected to focus on the opportunities and risks associated with artificial intelligence.