The Daily Mail of London’s Live magazine published an interesting and at times insightful interview with Bill Gates over the weekend. The purpose was to discuss an initiative to raise billions in funding for childhood immunizations. But the interview also delved into subjects including technology, Gates’ legacy and his post-Microsoft life.
Some of our favorite nuggets …
- He still reads paper books but believes, over time, digital reading “will completely take over.”
- Next big thing? It’s “definitely speech and voice recognition.” He adds, “You’ll be able to touch that board or speak to it and get your message to colleagues around the world. Screens are cheap.”
- Facebook has apparently proven unwieldy for him — “the friend requests got out of hand.”
- Gates says he cares more about the effects of his work on the world than on his place in history. “Legacy is a stupid thing! I don’t want a legacy.”
- Bono stayed at Gates’ place when U2 was in town last week. Gates drove his family to the concert in their minivan.
- Gates reiterates that his children will inherit a “minuscule portion” of his wealth. He explains that “they will have to pick a job they like and go to work. They are normal kids now. They do chores, they get pocket money.’
- We already knew this, but no iPods/iPhones/iPads for the Gates kids. ‘They have the Windows equivalent,” he says. “They have a Zune music player, which is a great Windows portable player. They are not deprived children.”
By the way, Gates’ reference in the interview to Mark Zuckerberg’s girlfriend as the Facebook founder’s “fiancee” is generating some buzz. Was it a secret revealed or a mistaken impression on Gates’ part? Looks like the latter.
Read the full Daily Mail interview here.
