Economy

Bill Gates abruptly canceled a keynote address at the India AI Impact Summit in New Delhi on Thursday, hours before he was scheduled to speak, as renewed scrutiny focuses on his past relationship with Jeffrey Epstein. The withdrawal came as the six-day event, intended to showcase India’s growing role in artificial intelligence, faced criticism for organizational issues and awkward moments among tech leaders.

According to the Gates Foundation, the decision was made “to ensure the focus remained on the AI Summit’s key priorities.” This explanation followed assurances from the foundation just days prior that Gates was still slated to attend. Ankur Vora, the foundation’s chief strategy officer and India and Africa chief, ultimately spoke in Gates’ place.

The timing of the cancellation coincides with the release of U.S. Justice Department emails earlier this month detailing communications between Epstein and individuals connected to the Gates Foundation. The emails include a draft message reportedly written by Epstein suggesting he facilitated sexual encounters for Gates, allegations Gates has denied. He has stated he regrets knowing Epstein.

Gates’ departure is the latest disruption to the summit. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang likewise pulled out of the event, citing “unforeseen circumstances,” according to Reuters. The summit has also been plagued by logistical challenges, including traffic congestion and reports of organizational chaos.

Adding to the awkwardness, a photo opportunity featuring OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei alongside Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted the intensifying rivalry between the two AI companies. Altman and Amodei, standing side-by-side, conspicuously refrained from holding hands during the photo, while Modi grasped and raised the hands of other tech executives, including Google CEO Sundar Pichai. The moment quickly circulated on social media, with one user on X posting, “When AGI? The day Dario and Sam hold hands.”

The companies, OpenAI and Anthropic, are locked in a competitive battle to establish their AI models as the industry standard. They have recently exchanged criticisms regarding the potential use of advertising within AI models. India’s Tata Group announced a partnership with OpenAI during the summit, and Reliance Industries pledged $110 billion in investment for AI infrastructure, contributing to over $200 billion in total investment pledges.

The Gates Foundation did not respond to a Reuters query regarding whether the withdrawal from the summit was directly linked to the scrutiny surrounding the Epstein files. The summit continues, but the events surrounding Gates’ cancellation and the visible tension between Altman and Amodei have overshadowed the event’s intended focus on India’s AI ambitions.

Polish pensions and benefits will increase by 5.3% from March 1, 2026, according to a recent announcement from the Social Insurance Institution (ZUS). The increase will raise the minimum pension to 1,978.49 złoty gross.

The valuation, which affects both pensions and disability benefits, is based on the growth of average wages and consumer prices. ZUS President, Professor Gertruda Uścińska, stated that increased mortality rates during the epidemic period also influenced the calculation of pension amounts, according to reporting by Bankier.pl.

The increase impacts not only standard pensions but also special benefits available through ZUS. In the Małopolska region, the number of individuals eligible for these special payments has risen, as reported by Co w Krakowie.

Although the pension increase provides some relief for retirees, the automotive market is experiencing shifts. Despite increased sales, Tesla’s market share in Poland is declining, with Chinese manufacturers emerging as new leaders in the electric vehicle sector, according to Bankier.pl.

Separately, a planned reform to convert B2B contracts into standard employment agreements has been halted following internal disagreements within the government. Prime Minister Donald Tusk ordered the withdrawal of the project after a dispute, as reported by Wyborcza.biz.