Sept. 6 (Bloomberg) -- Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates (Bill Gates) has spent tens of billions of dollars to fund technology projects that he believes will shape the future in areas such as combating climate change and eradicating disease. In an exclusive interview with tech media outlet The Verge, Gates analyzes the future and speaks out on topics such as the potential of artificial intelligence, strategies to combat climate change, social inequality, the proliferation of misinformation and its impact, and continued progress and challenges in global health.
Below is a summary of the interview:
Ask:You used to make ChatGPT Recommended workouts you can do in the office. Do you use ChatGPT on a regular basis? If so, how do you use it?
Gates:I didn't actually workout with its recommendations, although it gave a good one that time. I use ChatGPT regularly to learn about a variety of topics, and it's an excellent tool for getting quick access to explanations of specific questions. It also helps greatly when writing. The most commonly used feature is the meeting summary, which is integrated into Microsoft Teams, which I use a lot. The interactivity is not only limited to generating summaries, but the ability to ask questions about the content of the meeting is great.
Ask:Do you think Microsoft should deepen its relationship with OpenAI cooperation, or more investment in autonomous technologies?
Gates:As a Microsoft consultant, I have seen Microsoft strengthen its relationship with OpenAI cooperation, but also in developing the technology in-house. The scale of Microsoft's investment, as well as that of other companies, in this area is so large that it is difficult to underestimate its importance.
Ask:What do you think of all the doomsday prophecies about AI potentially destroying the world? Are you concerned about this?
Gates:Currently, the focus is on how to use AI in a positive way, such as in health and education. Even in the US, we have a teacher shortage. I've seen Khanmigo (Khan Academy's AI tool) in Newark, which is based on ChatGPT, and it helps teachers tremendously and keeps students who are behind or ahead active. So it's certainly good news that productivity in many fields will increase dramatically over the next decade. Of course, as AI becomes more powerful, the potential for malicious use increases, but overall I believe the benefits of AI outweigh the risks, we just need to get it right.
Ask:What do you think about the potential for AI to exacerbate the spread of disinformation, especially since you've mentioned the impact of AI on climate change and global health?
Gates:Overall, I think AI is of great benefit in climate change and other environmental issues. People can always enter misinformation into a word processor and don't necessarily have to rely on AI. so I'm not sure AI really changes the balance of information dissemination, unless it's generating deeply falsified content. In fact, I think AI can play a positive role in the discussion of reducing disinformation by analyzing the flow of information very efficiently and helping us understand what is actually happening. In terms of what to think about AI, how to eradicate malaria, improve global health, and drive all kinds of climate innovation, I've been working on those issues and those efforts are an important part of the solution. And as for the issue of disinformation, I think the younger generation really needs to find a balance between free speech and misinformation.
Ask:Training AI consumes a lot ofrenewable energy. With Microsoft's greenhouse gas emissions on the rise, how do you balance this issue with your commitment to climate change?
Gates:Microsoft and other tech companies are committed to finding clean energy sources and being pioneers in these new technologies, including cutting-edge technologies such as geothermal, nuclear fission, and nuclear fusion.Even under extreme projections, AI data centers will see energy growth below 10%. And the net benefits of AI's contribution to helping us in scientific discovery and production processes, such as how to make steel, process meat and predict the weather, far outweigh its need for electricity.andElectric VehiclesAI uses much less electricity than electric heat pumps.
Ask:Some of the technologies you've funded have been called "false climate solutions" because carbon capture doesn't eliminate pollution from fossil fuels, and nuclear energy programs have been controversial because of uranium mining. How do you respond to the skepticism about these climate technologies?
Gates:I firmly believe that nuclear energy can help solve the climate crisis and that, through improved design and technology, we can minimize the challenges of safety, fuel consumption and waste disposal. While nuclear energy is not yet an affordable mainstream energy source, both fission and fusion technologies have the potential to provide cheap electricity in the future. We therefore need to be cautious about mining and waste storage, but these technologies are necessary to realize the energy transition.
TerraPower is working hard to prove that we can develop safer and cheaper nuclear fission technology. Although this technology has not yet been realized, people will be able to see its potential as plants are built. (Editor's note: Gates is the founder and chairman of the board of TerraPower.)
Ask:Carbon capture technologies produce other pollution from fossil fuels besides carbon dioxide. How do you respond to environmental justice questions about these technologies?
Gates:In many countries, coal is gradually being replaced by natural gas, which is a good sign. Natural gas has far fewer localized pollutants than coal, although it still produces carbon dioxide. Over time, we will need to move away from natural gas and towards cleaner energy solutions.
In the United States, new coal power plants are no longer being built and many existing plants are transitioning to cleaner energy sources. This transition not only reduces carbon dioxide emissions, but also improves air quality and reduces particulate matter, with significant public health benefits. Globally, although not all countries are as rich in natural gas as the United States, nuclear fission and fusion technologies will be an important addition to renewable energy in these regions.
Ask:Many environmentalists are also concerned about methane leakage from natural gas, especially its impact on indoor air quality. As for nuclear fusion, experts believe it may not materialize in the timeframe set by the Paris agreement, and why are you still so optimistic?
Gates:I have invested in five fusion companies, and although their timetables are more distant, I believe that fusion will play a vital role in the future. Given the challenges of scaling up technology, we may not achieve the 1.5°C target and may even miss the 2°C control target. We must therefore show innovation in adapting to climate change and ensure that people around the globe, especially in poor countries near the equator, can experience improvements in health, nutrition and well-being.
While climate change will pose challenges, I do not believe that we will face a climate catastrophe. The deployment and application of new technologies will give us the capacity to meet those challenges. However, it is inevitable that we will experience a warming of 2 degrees Celsius, and therefore more needs to be done in terms of adaptation to climate change.
Ask:Looking back on your management career at Microsoft, is there anything you wish you had done differently at the time?
Gates:During my time leading Microsoft, I have always been a learner. Overall, I am proud of the company's growth and accomplishments. Fortunately, Microsoft remains great under my successor, Satya Nadella. I've learned a lot from my continued work with Microsoft, especially in the use of artificial intelligence, which has allowed me to play a greater role in areas such as global health and education. I am very grateful for the opportunity Satya has given me.
Ask:Antitrust issues are currently in the spotlight, and there is even talk that the tech giant could be broken up. What would the tech industry look like today if Microsoft had been split up in the early 21st century?
Gates:The outcome of antitrust litigation is difficult to predict. When a company is very successful, facing antitrust scrutiny is inevitable. Of course, Microsoft's experience provides lessons for other companies. I think it will continue to thrive regardless of which part of the company I stay with after the split.