Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates recently joined Zerodha founder Nikhil Kamath for the debut episode of Kamath’s podcast series “People by WTF.” During their 30-minute conversation, Gates discussed a range of topics from his early days at Microsoft to the transformative impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on various industries, particularly software engineering.
Gates expressed optimism about AI’s potential, particularly in education and productivity. He highlighted successful AI projects in India and the US, which demonstrate AI’s capability to serve as educational tutors and enhance job productivity. “The amazing thing about this technology is that we know it can help in key areas,” Gates noted, emphasizing AI’s positive potential if used to make jobs more productive.
Addressing concerns about AI displacing software engineers, Gates reassured listeners by dismissing such worries as “alarmist.” He stressed the continued need for software engineers despite AI advancements. “We still need those software engineers as we are not going to stop needing them,” he stated, providing comfort to those in the industry anxious about job security.
However, Gates did acknowledge a distant possibility where AI might replace all jobs but deemed it unlikely within the next two decades. He added humorously, “Although I am not sure of that,” suggesting the long-term impact of AI remains uncertain.