Bill Gates is known for his ability to predict technological advances and their impact on society. Since he stepped down from Microsoft in 2008, Gates has dedicated his time to philanthropy and investing in high-risk technology projects.
Among his different interventions in events around the world, he has been analytical of the future that can await humanity. Artificial intelligence (AI), smart cell phones and new forms of online commerce are some of the predictions that the businessman has gotten right.
Next, There are several predictions that Bill Gates made in the pastand how these were fulfilled with the advancement of technology.
Gates anticipated the mass adoption of artificial intelligence, which is already beginning to be seen with tools such as ChatGPT and Copilot. These AI-based systems are transforming sectors as diverse as education, customer service, and digital content creation.
ChatGPT, for example, can hold coherent conversations in multiple languages, assist in writing documents and even tell stories, while Copilot helps programmers by suggesting lines of code and simplifying software development.
Gates has highlighted the positive aspects of AI, pointing out its potential to improve everythingfrom healthcare to energy efficiency.
Among his most discussed projections, Gates has been a proponent of universal minimum income (UMI) to mitigate the impact of unemployment caused by automation and artificial intelligence on the labor market.
Automation promises to increase productivity and reduce costs, but it also poses significant risks, such as the disappearance of traditional jobs.
The IMU proposes to offer all citizens an unconditional basic income, ensuring that no one is left behind during the transition to an increasingly automated economy.
Gates has argued that an IMU could provide a safety net for workers displaced by these technologies, allowing them to retrain and adapt to new job opportunities.
One of his most notable successes is the prediction about smartphones. Before the iPhone revolutionized the market in 2007, the businessman had already imagined compact and portable devices with touch screens, capable of performing multiple actions beyond making phone calls.
In interviews and conferences, Gates talked about small electronic devices with which multiple actions could be performed from one screen, anticipating the creation of the iPhone by Steve Jobs.
Gates also anticipated the growth of the Internet and how this network of networks would become an essential platform for carrying out all types of commercial transactions, from basic purchases to medical services.
In the late 90s, when many still considered the internet a novelty or a luxury, envisioned a future in which the network would be the backbone of global commerce.
His prediction has been more than fulfilled, because currently people buy food, clothing, electricity and even insurance through the web.
Another prediction included messenger RNA vaccines, a technology in which it has invested since 2014, which became key to combating the COVID-19 pandemic.
His early investments in companies like Moderna were crucial to the rapid development of COVID-19 vaccines, which are currently saving lives around the world.
Likewise, Gates’ futuristic vision is not limited to consumer technology and work. He has also spoken about climate change, the need for renewable energy and the development of new technologies to address environmental crises.
Its pronouncements on different occasions offer a roadmap to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote sustainable practices.
