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Microsoft AI Earth

Bill Gates Discusses AI, Climate Change, and his Time at Microsoft (gatesnotes.com) 112

Posted by EditorDavid from the Gates-notes dept.
Bill Gates took his 11th turn answering questions in Reddit's "Ask My Anything" forum this week — and occasionally looked back on his time at Microsoft: Is technology only functional for you nowadays, or is there a still hobby aspect to it? Do you for instance still do nerdy or geeky things in your spare time; e.g. write code?

Yes. I like to play around and code. The last time my code shipped in a Microsoft product was 1985 — so a long time ago. I can no longer threaten when I think a schedule is too long that "I will come in and code it over the weekend."


Mr Gates, with the benefit of hindsight regarding your years of involvement with Microsoft, what is the single biggest thing you wish you had done differently?

I was CEO until 2000. I certainly know a lot now that I didn't back then. Two areas I would change would be our work in phone Operating systems (Android won) and trying to settle the antitrust lawsuit sooner.
Gates posted all of his responses on his personal web site Gates Notes — and there were also some discussion about AI's coming role in our future. Asked for his opinion about generative AI, and how it will impact the world, Gates said "I am quite impressed with the rate of improvement in these AIs" I think they will have a huge impact. Thinking of it in the Gates Foundation context we want to have tutors that help kids learn math and stay interested. We want medical help for people in Africa who can't access a doctor. I still work with Microsoft some, so I am following this very closely.

Do you think that using technology to push teachers and doctors out of jobs will have a positive impact on our world? What about, instead, we use AI to give equitable access to education and training for more human teachers and doctors, without the $500,000 price tag. Do you think that might have a more positive impact on, ya know, humans?

I think we need more teachers and doctors, not less. In the Foundation's work, the shortage of doctors means that most people never see a doctor and they suffer because of that. We want class sizes to be smaller. Digital tools can help although their impact so far has been modest.


[W]hat are your views on OpenAI's ChatGPT?

It gives a glimpse of what is to come. I am impressed with this whole approach and the rate of innovation....


Many years ago, I think around 2000, I heard you say something on TV like, "people are vastly overestimating what the internet will be like in 5 years, and vastly underestimating what it will be like in 10 years." Is any mammoth technology shift at a similar stage right now? Any tech shift — not necessarily the Internet

AI is the big one. I don't think Web3 was that big or that metaverse stuff alone was revolutionary, but AI is quite revolutionary....


What are you excited about in the year ahead?

First being a grandfather. Second being a good friend and father. Third progress in health and climate innovation. Fourth helping to shape the AI advances in a positive way.
Gates also offered an update on the Terrapower molten salt Thorium reactors, shared his thoughts on veganism, and made predictions about climate change. "I still believe we can avoid a terrible outcome. The pace of innovation is really picking up even though we won't make the current timelines or avoid going over 1.5.... The key on climate is making the clean products as cheap as the dirty products in every area of emission — planes, concrete, meat etc."

Gates also revealed what kind of smartphone he uses (a foldable Samsung Fold 4), what he thought of the latest Avatar ("good"), and that his favorite bands include U2. "I loved Bono's recent book and he is a good friend."

And he said he believes that the very rich "should pay a lot more in taxes." But in addition, Gates said, "they should give away their wealth over time. It has been very fulfilling for me and is my full-time job."
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Bill Gates Discusses AI, Climate Change, and his Time at Microsoft More

Bill Gates Discusses AI, Climate Change, and his Time at Microsoft

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  • Or why his wife divorced him?

  • I've got a better question (Score:3, Interesting)

    by DNS-and-BIND ( 461968 ) on Monday January 16, 2023 @12:17AM (#63211764) Homepage
    Bill Gates: why did you ride Jeffrey Epstein's private jet "Lolita Express" so many times? And why did your wife Melinda divorce you after the news came out that you did? After all, everyone who rode on the plane is innocent of pedophilia.

  • Why do we listen to this ass-hat? (Score:3, Insightful)

    by RitchCraft ( 6454710 ) on Monday January 16, 2023 @12:23AM (#63211776)
    Mr Gates, what do you say to those people that insist because of your company's predatory and monopolistic tactics technology was set back 20 or more years?
    • Nobody likes a poor thief.

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by Tom ( 822 )

      I think what he's saying is roughly "I have a superyacht and they don't. Hahaha"

    • Mr Gates, what do you say to those people that insist because of your company's predatory and monopolistic tactics technology was set back 20 or more years?

      He would say he doesn't regret it since it grew the company to what it is today, and he'd also likely ask you to prove that MS setback anything.

      It's hard to prove a negative but the essence of complete and open competition does not drive technological innovation. It does however drive down prices. Actually as a counterpoint I would point to the internet and specifically the movement of standards groups in general. One could argue that the monopolistic practices currently displayed by Google pushing forward

    • These sort of companies cut corners. What really pisses me off is the indifferent response of the *nix vendors particularly Sun who complacently sat on their arses charging idiotic 5 figure price tags for desktop systems that could have challenged the PC (and Mac) back in the 90s with sensible pricing and decent application software. The world could have been very different if the *nix vendors hadn't decided to coin it in - then got wiped out by Linux anyway which grew because *nix users wanted an affordabl

    • I couldn't help but notice that he said he wanted to get the antitrust trial over sooner, not that he regrets doing the evil shit he did to competitors. He learned a lot over the years, mainly that corporate violence works.

  • The tinfoil hat trolls got in on this right away. Good to see people whose opinions will never, ever, ever have any consequence are out there keeping the internet aware of the big lies that we (sure, I guess I'm in on it) are selling as truths. I honestly don't know why having some ability to write code correlates with thinking one can understand anything in any field, regardless of how complex it actually is. And the box they think in is so small.

    What about being overworked by frankly inhumane labor practi

  • Like, if you give a shit about climate change, why did you short Tesla?

    • Because tesla is a meme stock.

    • Like, if you give a shit about climate change, why did you short Tesla?

      What's climate change got to do with making money from a massively overvalued stock?

      You're specifically talking about someone who then goes on to direct some of the money he makes to potential material solutions to climate change such as TerraPower.

      The cult of Musk needs to realise that Tesla will not singlehandedly save the world, and that not caring about that one company has zero to do with personal views on climate change.

  • One of the main perpetrators responsible for insecure, unreliable and generally really bad software and OSes is certainly nobody worth listening to.

    • I'd point out the logical fallacy involved but I doubt you're listening.

      Regardless, the guy put more money to decent use by 9:00 a.m. each day than you'll probably donate in your whole lifetime.

      • Re:Some people should not be listened to (Score:4, Insightful)

        by nagora ( 177841 ) on Monday January 16, 2023 @03:53AM (#63211982)

        I'd point out the logical fallacy involved but I doubt you're listening.

        Regardless, the guy put more money to decent use by 9:00 a.m. each day than you'll probably donate in your whole lifetime.

        Well, since he stole it that's not a big deal is it? If I come round and take your car, sell it and then give 10% to charity does that mean you'll forgive me? Or might that be a "logical fallacy"?

        • The fact that you think he "sthttps://slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=22718128&cid=63211970#ole" it is just another form of shitty thinking.

          • Damn. No idea why that happened.

            The fact that you think he "stole" it is just another form of shitty thinking.

            • Re: (Score:2)

              by nagora ( 177841 )

              "Extracted with menaces," then. Is that better? It doesn't sound better.

              Maybe you have no idea at all about who Bill Gates is or how he got his money. Well, our money.

              • Re: (Score:2)

                by SirSlud ( 67381 )

                i love how a large swath of slashdotters shall forever live in 1995, it's adorable

              • "Extracted with menaces," then. Is that better? It doesn't sound better.

                Maybe you have no idea at all about who Bill Gates is or how he got his money. Well, our money.

                I've bought a few consoles, controllers, random hardware, and a few Microsoft games on the various Xboxen and PC over my life. I've bought maybe three copies of Windows in twenty-six years, not counting the license that comes with a new laptop. I've had a few of those over the years.

                I've sailed the digital seas plundering the goods of Microsoft as I saw fit. I know it's wrong, but even my Microsoft piracy probably only comes to a few hundred dollars in my lifetime. I prefer a lot of open source solutions fo

      • Regardless, the guy put more money to decent use by 9:00 a.m. each day than you'll probably donate in your whole lifetime.

        He's putting the money to profitable use.. for him

        The Gates Foundation has not changed perceptibly since this [latimes.com]

        Congratulations on your kool-aid habit

        • So what? If the balance remains flat because some of it gets invested well, and some of it is spent in the pursuit of philanthropic goals, doesn't that mean it can go on for the forseeable future?

          What about that bothers you, other than, "Bill Gates BAD!"?

          • So what? If the balance remains flat because some of it gets invested well, and some of it is spent in the pursuit of philanthropic goals, doesn't that mean it can go on for the forseeable future?

            If the balance is flat, then it doesn't matter how long it goes on, it will never help. Please think before typing.

            • What are you talking about? One of us has an understanding problem here. It's not me.

              The Foundation has given out something like $50 Billion dollars. If his net worth is flat, that means his investment income is keeping pace with his donations, meaning the donations can continue to pour out as long as that remains true.

              I would LOVE to hear how you think that, "If the balance is flat, then it doesn't matter how long it goes on, it will never help." Please, do explain how an outflow of $50 billion with no en

              • Oh, you meant his net worth. I thought you meant the output from the foundation, since you didn't specify, like one does while speaking English.

                His net worth has increased since founding the foundation, he's controlled it in ways that profit him, so even if your argument weren't false it would be irrelevant.

                • I still don't really follow you. What's relevant is that many, many billions have gone from Bill Gates to good causes. Full stop.

                  His net worth isn't important. And if the foundation itself is "profitable" while maintaining significant charitable outflows, that's smart management.

                  • I still don't really follow you. What's relevant is that many, many billions have gone from Bill Gates to good causes. Full stop.

                    Many billions have gone from him to fuck up education and shit, too, and the investments he's making and that the foundation is making are harming people. So prove a net positive or admit you are just making shit up

                    • I was going to respond with some information, but then I realized because you have an irrational hate on for the foundation, you would immediately attack:

                      - the source
                      - the perceived accuracy
                      - the basis for the article
                      - a strawman

                      So fine. Enjoy your angry stew. I hope it sustains you.

      • Re: (Score:1)

        by gweihir ( 88907 )

        The guy is trying to offset his massively bad karma he got from doing massive damage. He cannot, there is just too much of it. And quite a few of his philanthropic projects do not look so good when you take a closer look.

    • One of the main perpetrators responsible for insecure, unreliable and generally really bad software and OSes is certainly nobody worth listening to.

      You should listen to him. Especially the first thing he said such as the last time his code was shipped being in 1985, meaning ultimately he's not the main perpetrator responsible for insecure, unreliable and generally really bad software.

      But hey score a cheap upvote by making a Windows joke, while ignoring that the entire world is functioning perfectly fine using that software. You look sadder by the day.

      • Re: (Score:2)

        by Tom ( 822 )

        the entire world is functioning perfectly fine using that software.

        Agree in principle but please don't say "perfectly fine". It's not. It's working the same way the human body is working - a badly cobbled together pile of crap that gets the job done, barely. The list of flaws is endless, but this one was good enough and cheap, so it took the market by storm.

        • Re: (Score:2)

          by gweihir ( 88907 )

          And now a massive debt becomes due. All that ransomware? Probably just the beginning.

        • Re: (Score:2)

          by SirSlud ( 67381 )

          welcome to literally everything in the history of humanity, you can either spend you life thinking everything that wins a market sucks because it's not even remotely perfect, or that it's normal because there are valid criticisms to be made of everything.

          the trick is to make sure you're sticking to criticizing on merit on the balance of everything it did well, not that it's not as good as the other thing(s) that should have won in the timeline that never happened

          the difference between the alternative (linux

    • I see your point. Just because he has money and is "smart", doesn't mean he knows shit about anything. He's got money and influence, so people care what he says. Feel free to agree or disagree with him, which is your right.

      In my opinion, I think he has made some odd or questionable decisions with his foundation but I also think that he has done some good. I feel that even though money bringing influence can be an evil thing sometimes, it seems a genuine thing for Bill Gates to use his money to try and help

  • I'm struck how little he actually says in this interview, or any interview. Makes you wonder why he does them at all.

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by nagora ( 177841 )

      I'm struck how little he actually says in this interview, or any interview. Makes you wonder why he does them at all.

      He needs to keep "Brand Gates" up with some publicity here and there.

    • Makes you wonder why he does them at all.

      What? No, not even a little bit. It's painfully obvious. Every time he does one the media sucks his cock. Why would he not continue doing them? Are you new, or just not paying attention?

      • Billy , you lost your Borg cred. Any thoughts on new Borgs ? Information privacy, excessive warrants, this is not just China. Can democracy coexist with authoritarian regimes further undermining freedom ideals.

  • If the suit had been settled sooner, it would have been under a less friendly administration, and there might have been actual consequences. It makes no sense at all for him to want to have settled it sooner.

  • It's a M$ PR effort on tech sites, right?

  • seriously ? (Score:4, Interesting)

    by Tom ( 822 ) on Monday January 16, 2023 @08:55AM (#63212474) Homepage Journal

    He's just one more time parroting the hype of the year. Oh yeah, AI that and AI this.

    There aren't any major innovations in AI right now, sorry. We have a bunch of really interesting toys. But the ML applications that changed things already happened - they brought us useable voice recognition, face recognition, deep fakes, upscaling of images, etc.

    What we get now is shiny and interesting, but it's not an application. I has no impact on ordinary life.

    • He's just one more time parroting the hype of the year.

      I guess if the only thing you know about Bill Gates is this article you may think so. Digging deeper though he's been talking about AI being the next major disruptive technology for over a decade, even at times calling it an actual threat and a danger.

      There aren't any major innovations in AI right now, sorry. We have a bunch of really interesting toys. But the ML applications that changed things already happened

      You lack of imagination fortunately has no impact on those who do have innovation. The world is full of people who only look to the past and declare that everything has been invented and every application already exists for any technology. They only share one

      • Re: (Score:2)

        by Tom ( 822 )

        I guess if the only thing you know about Bill Gates is this article you may think so. Digging deeper though he's been talking about AI being the next major disruptive technology for over a decade, even at times calling it an actual threat and a danger.

        Again, he's far from alone in that.

        You lack of imagination fortunately has no impact on those who do have innovation.

        What, exactly, has Bill Gates innovated ?

  • Certainly, I have no love for Microsoft, but in my opinion, after 2000, Windows went downhill. XP was riding on Windows's 2000's coat tails. Other than large drive addressing, disk-checking without rebooting, a bit more stable Windows update, a dark theme, and TRIM--twenty-two years of Windows development has brought nothing else of value for the user.

    Currently, Microsoft Windows, is a mess. You have layer after layer of unfinished, incomplete GUI initiative. Lately, the ones they start, they should have

  • Another fluff interview with some has-been celebrity who made a lot of money making millions of people miserable.

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