Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates recently went on a tour to promote his new book, "Source Code: My Beginnings." During the tour, he talked about his youth, the early days of founding the tech giant Microsoft, his philanthropic activities in healthcare, and his interest in artificial intelligence (AI).
Gates has always been a strong believer in the potential of AI. Given Microsoft’s investment in OpenAI, it’s no surprise that he’s talking about AI.
In a recent podcast, "Figureing Out with Raj Shamani," Gates discussed the potential for AI to change the healthcare landscape, especially mental health. "There will never be a shortage of therapists in the world. But with the help of AI, even people with mild mental health issues can be helped. It’ll be interesting to see what this AI companion looks like and how it can improve our lives," he said.
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Gates also expressed confidence that AI can play a key role in fostering creativity and simplifying education systems. "AI can provide students with a personalized learning experience and reduce the workload of teachers," he said.
Gates also spoke about his philanthropic activities in this interview. He stepped down as CEO of Microsoft in 2000 and completely stepped down from the company's board in 2020 to focus on the Gates Foundation. "Our foundation is achieving better outcomes in health and education around the world," he proudly said.
Gates also responded positively about India. Speaking to Indian host Raj Shamani, he praised the progress being made in technology and science in India. "India is a country with great potential. However, there are still many challenges to overcome," he opined.
On the other hand, in a conversation with Jimmy Fallon, Gates analyzed the future of AI in more depth. "We are entering a new era. AI will make intelligence commonplace. Medical advice and teaching will be available for free," he said.
He predicted that AI would completely change the way humans work and that one day they would be able to work just two or three days a week.
"In the future, the need for humans will decrease. AI will effectively handle tasks like manufacturing, transportation, and food production. But there are some things we should reserve for ourselves. For example, we wouldn’t want to see computers playing baseball!" Gates joked.
In this way, Bill Gates, while expressing his optimism about the potential of AI, also reminded us of the need to balance its limitations with human needs.