In a recent podcast, Bill Gates, the co-founder of Microsoft Corp., reminisced about his enduring connection with India and the country’s pivotal role in his career.

What Happened: Gates, in a conversation with Nikhil Kamath, the co-founder of Zerodha, reflected on his journey with India, starting with the recruitment of IT graduates from the country to Microsoft’s headquarters in Seattle.

These graduates later established a development center for the company in India, which now employs 25,000 people.

“I’ve had a fabulous relationship with India starting with the Microsoft experience where we hired some very smart IT graduates, and brought them to Seattle," Gates said.

"In my digital first career, the connection with India was fun and made a huge difference in what the company was able to achieve."

Gates underscored that as far as his foundation's philanthropy efforts are concerned, India sees the highest spending in the world, after the U.S.

See Also: Optimistic Bill Gates Lauds India’s Resilience Ahead Of First Visit Since Pandemic

He praised the current CEO of Microsoft, Satya Nadella, for his leadership and the significant impact of the Indian workforce on the company’s achievements during his tenure.

Gates also recalled a conversation between Nadella and Alphabet Inc. CEO Sundar Pichai as far as artificial intelligence is concerned.

"I happened to meet Satya and Sundar when I was in the U.S. and we were having dinner at a certain place together. These guys seem to talk about AGI in a very precocious manner like it's much closer than anybody is thinking."

Why It Matters: Gates’ connection with India has been a long-standing one. In 2023, he expressed his optimism about India’s resilience and progress, stating that India gives him hope for the future. His first visit to India post the pandemic was marked by his excitement to witness the country’s progress.

In the same year, Kamath, with whom Gates had recent conversation, pledged half of his wealth to charity, joining the ‘Giving Pledge’ established by Gates, Warren Buffet, and Melinda French Gates.

In 2024, Gates explored India’s digital infrastructure in Odisha, championing the use of AI in agriculture. His visit included programs aimed at harnessing artificial intelligence for enhancing agricultural practices.

The recent conversation with Kamath was part of a podcast series, where Gates shared his extensive experience in technology, his visionary insights on the future of global health, and his ongoing commitment to philanthropy.

Read Next: Bill Gates Discusses AI’s Public Good With PM Modi, Engages Indian Leaders On Health, Tech, And Innovation

Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of Benzinga Neuro and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

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