Nikhil Kamath Seeks Bill Gates’ Advice on AI in a Bold Podcast Moment
In a recent episode of his podcast People by WTF, Zerodha co-founder Nikhil Kamath asked Bill Gates (the Microsoft co-founder and philanthropist) for personal advice on how to get involved in the field of artificial intelligence.
Nikhil Kamath said that he felt like he was missing out on the AI wave and wanted to find a way to learn more about it. “I’m losing out on the whole AI world, so I want to go take a job somewhere in the US or an unpaid internship. Where would you suggest it? How do I get involved in learning about its implications—not just development?” he asked Bill Gates.
Bill Gates was surprised by the direct question, but he proceeded to respond in a positive way. He stated that someone with Nikhil Kamath’s experience could possibly find a role at OpenAI. “With all your business experience, maybe the OpenAI guys would have a role for you. You could learn a lot from them……They’re surfing the wave. It’s wild what they’re doing.”” Gates said.
This conversation between Nikhil Kamath and Bill Gates gave an insight into how two well-known entrepreneurs are thinking about the future. Although it started with AI, the discussion soon moved to bigger topics like the future of work and how AI could change the way people live in the years to come.
Further, the conversation moved from AI to how the technology might change society. Bill Gates shared his belief that in the next 20–30 years, AI will eliminate many traditional scarcities, such as labor and time. “You can retire early, work shorter work weeks,” Gates explained. “It’s going to require almost a philosophical rethink of what we value.”
Nikhil Kamath agreed and said that changes brought by AI could shift how people see success and structure their lives. He pointed out that society may no longer be based mainly on work or income. Bill Gates responded by saying that while equality is a good idea, it might not be a realistic or natural goal for everyone.
They also talked about self-discipline and work ethic. Bill Gates shared that in order to succeed, a person needs to be honest with themselves and willing to push themselves to work hard.
This open conversation not only covered the technical aspects of AI but also its broad impact on society, work, and personal development. It was a rare moment where two successful entrepreneurs went beyond just business and philanthropy, sharing their thoughts on the importance of staying curious, adaptable, and relevant in a world that’s constantly evolving.