Microsoft co-founder and philanthropist Bill Gates has lauded India’s rapid pace of innovation, stating that the country’s emergence as a developed nation by 2047 would not only transform India but also have a positive impact on the world.
"If India can stay on the path of the 2047 plan, it will be beneficial not just to India but to the whole world. The fact that you have 20 percent of humanity engaged in democratic elections—albeit somewhat chaotic—while prioritizing key sectors like health and education has created a very positive dynamic," Gates said in a conversation with The Indian Express at the Express Adda event in Mumbai on Thursday.
Gates described India’s economic growth outlook as promising, saying, “It is a great place to be when the debate revolves around whether the growth rate will be 5 percent or 10 percent. While I don’t think it will hit 10%, I also don’t see it falling below 5 percent.” He emphasised that economic expansion would enable greater government investment in healthcare and education, creating significant opportunities.
AI and India's Role in Innovation
Speaking on Artificial Intelligence (AI), Gates said the technology would bring profound changes but dismissed fears that it would eliminate jobs. “Jobs exist due to scarcity. With AI, we can achieve enough food and medical care without requiring everyone to work as we do today,” he told The Indian Express.
Despite acknowledging AI’s potential, Gates admitted he was wary of its rapid development. “If I had control, I would have liked to slow down its pace,” he said.
Gates also commended India’s AI development approach, particularly in adapting open-source foundational models to suit local needs, including support for Indian languages. However, he cautioned against heavy subsidies for chip manufacturing, saying India should enter the industry only if it remains competitive.
Climate Change and the Global Challenge
On climate change, Gates was pessimistic about the world meeting the 1.5-degree or even 2-degree warming targets. However, he remained optimistic about technology’s role in mitigating the crisis.
"We won’t meet the 1.5-degree target, and we are likely to miss the 2-degree goal as well. But climate change will not be catastrophic if innovation continues at the current pace," he said, adding that poorer countries would be the most affected.
India’s Digital Public Infrastructure and Global Contributions
Gates praised India’s digital public infrastructure, including Aadhaar and UPI, calling it one of the country’s most significant contributions to the world. “Every time I visit, I see more companies leveraging this infrastructure—whether in banking, government benefits, or stock trading. Innovation in India is progressing faster than I had expected,” he told The Indian Express.
Along with affordable vaccine development, he said India's digital infrastructure was among its most valuable recent contributions. When asked to choose between the two, Gates picked digital infrastructure as the bigger game-changer.
Concerns Over the Decline of Newspapers
Gates also voiced concerns over the decline of newspapers globally, particularly their ability to fund investigative journalism.
"It is sad that the business model of newspapers is under threat. In the U.S., even national newspapers rarely invest in investigative reporting. I hope philanthropic organizations take an interest in this sector," he told The Indian Express.
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