The Indian AI Impact Summit was meant to demonstrate that the country is a serious player in AI and serve as its showcase.
However, it has been dogged by controversies of alleged mismanagement, inconvenience to delegates, exhibitors and the public due to security sweeps, and allegedly false claims by an Indian University.
The official claimed that a Chinese ‘robodog’ was developed by her Galgotias University – with the institution later apologising for the minsunderstanding.
But it has been the participation of the co-founder of Microsoft, Bill Gates, who was to give a key address on the inauguration day, that has been the most damaging.
Mr Gates was scheduled to speak today alongside Prime Minister Narendra Modi, French President Emmanuel Macron, Google head Sundar Pichai, OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman and others.
Just hours before he was due to speak, a social media post by the Gates Foundation said: “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 remains fully committed to our work in India to advance our shared health and development goals.”
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There was much consternation about Mr Gates taking part in such a high-profile event when last month the US Justice Department released emails, photographs and documents of his exchange with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
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Mr Gates maintains that his relationship and repeated meetings with Epstein were confined to philanthropy-related discussions and that it was a mistake for him to meet Epstein.
Until yesterday, the Gates Foundation asserted and stated, “Bill Gates is attending the AI Impact Summit. He will be delivering his keynote as scheduled.”
