Brussels Post

United in Diversity
Tuesday, Jul 01, 2025

Bill Gates Reflects on Past Mistakes and Acknowledges Yuval Noah Harari's Insight

In a candid interview, Bill Gates opens up about regrets, including his views on AI, and admits that Israeli historian Yuval Noah Harari was right about the consequences of unchecked technological growth.
Bill Gates, the co-founder of Microsoft and one of the world’s most influential tech entrepreneurs, has offered a rare public acknowledgment of mistakes as he reflects on his career and personal life in interviews promoting his new memoir.

At the age of 69, Gates opens up about the largest regret of his life—the end of his marriage to Melinda Gates—and touches on his views on technology, including his earlier stance on AI and free access to information.

In an interview with The New York Times, Gates shared his thoughts on the influence of Israeli historian Yuval Noah Harari, whose books on the future of humanity have made a significant impact on him.

Gates admitted that Harari’s warnings about humanity's over-reliance on technology had been right, especially in regard to the free flow of information.

Harari’s argument, which Gates previously disagreed with, suggested that despite unprecedented access to information, humanity was close to self-destruction.

Gates admitted, 'He’s right, and I was wrong.'

Gates had previously criticized Harari’s 2017 book, 'Homo Deus,' which warned that technology could lead to a world where elites enhance themselves with advanced technology, leaving the rest of humanity behind.

Gates had argued that such a bleak future was avoidable.

However, after reading Harari’s most recent book 'Nexus,' Gates said he now understood the validity of Harari's perspective on the dangers of unchecked technological growth.

Gates has also expressed regret over his earlier dismissals of concerns about AI’s potential to harm humanity.

Once an advocate for the boundless benefits of technology, he now warns about the need for regulation and oversight to ensure AI remains a tool for good, not harm.

While Gates remains a strong proponent of technology's potential, he has shifted towards advocating for more responsible development and governance.

Known for his philanthropy, Gates emphasized the need for technology to be used with caution and ethics.

Despite his wealth and success, Gates remains deeply concerned about the potential consequences of technological advancement when not properly managed, particularly in areas such as artificial intelligence and data privacy.

His reflections also extend to his personal journey, where he acknowledges the difficulties in balancing immense success with the responsibilities that come with it.
AI Disclaimer: An advanced artificial intelligence (AI) system generated the content of this page on its own. This innovative technology conducts extensive research from a variety of reliable sources, performs rigorous fact-checking and verification, cleans up and balances biased or manipulated content, and presents a minimal factual summary that is just enough yet essential for you to function as an informed and educated citizen. Please keep in mind, however, that this system is an evolving technology, and as a result, the article may contain accidental inaccuracies or errors. We urge you to help us improve our site by reporting any inaccuracies you find using the "Contact Us" link at the bottom of this page. Your helpful feedback helps us improve our system and deliver more precise content. When you find an article of interest here, please look for the full and extensive coverage of this topic in traditional news sources, as they are written by professional journalists that we try to support, not replace. We appreciate your understanding and assistance.
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Amazon Reaches Major Automation Milestone with Over One Million Robots
Extreme Heat Wave Sweeps Across Europe, Hitting Record Temperatures
Meta Announces Formation of Ambitious AI Unit, Meta Superintelligence Labs
AI Management Experiment Shows Promise Despite Failures
Robots Compete in Football Tournament in China Amid Injuries
China Unveils Miniature Insect-Like Surveillance Drone
Marc Marquez Claims Victory at Dutch Grand Prix Amidst Family Misfortune
Budapest Pride Parade Draws 200,000 Participants Amid Government Ban
Southern Europe Experiences Extreme Heat
Xiaomi's YU7 SUV Launch Garners Record Pre-Orders Amid Market Challenges
Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez's Lavish Wedding in Venice
Russia Launches Largest Air Assault on Ukraine Since Invasion
UK Scientists Launch Synthetic Human Genome Project with £10 Million Funding
EU TO HUNGARY: LET THEM PRIDE OR PREP FOR SHADE. ORBÁN TO EU: STAY IN YOUR LANE AND FIX YOUR OWN MESS.
Big Four Accounting Firms Fined in Exam Cheating Scandal
NATO Leaders Endorse Plan for Increased Defence Spending
U.S. Crude Oil Prices Drop Below $65 Amid Market Volatility
International Astronaut Team Launched to Space Station
Macron and Merz: Europe must arm itself in an unstable world
Trump Praises Iran’s ‘Very Weak’ Response After U.S. Strikes and Presses Israel to Pursue Peace
Oil Prices Set to Surge After US Strikes Iran
BA and Singapore Airlines Cancel Dubai Flights Amid Middle East Tensions
Trump Faces Backlash from MAGA Base Over Iran Strikes
Meta Bets $14 B on Alexandr Wang to Drive AI Ambitions
WATCH: Israeli forces show the aftermath of a massive airstrike at Iran's Isfahan nuclear site
FedEx Founder Fred Smith, ‘Heart and Soul’ of the Company, Dies at 80
Chinese Factories Shift Away from U.S. Amid Trump‑Era Tariffs
Pimco Seizes Opportunity in Japan’s Dislocated Bond Market
Labubu Doll Drives Pop Mart to Status as China’s Most Valuable Toy Maker
Global Coal Demand Defies Paris Accord Goals
Fordow: Deeply Buried Iranian Enrichment Site in U.S.–Israel Crosshairs
United States Conducts Precision Strikes on Iran’s Nuclear Sites
US strikes Iran nuclear sites, Trump says
Political Turmoil Resurfaces in Belgium Amid Economic Concerns
Senate hearing on who was 'really running' Biden White House kicks off
G7 Leaders Fail to Reach Consensus on Key Global Issues
Juncker Criticizes EU Inaction on Trump Tariffs
EU Proposes Ban on New Russian Gas Contracts
Shock Within Iran’s Leadership: Khamenei’s Failed Plan to Launch 1,000 Missiles Against Israel
UK Deploys Jets to Middle East Amid Rising Tensions
Germany Holds First Veterans Celebration Since WWII
Wreck of $17 Billion San José Galleon Identified Off Colombia After 300 Years
Man Convicted of Fraud After Booking Over 120 Free Flights Posing as Flight Attendant
Iran Launches Extensive Missile Attack on Israel Following Israeli Strikes on Nuclear Sites
Beata Thunberg Rebrands as Beata Ernman Amidst Sister's Activism Controversy
Israel Issues Ultimatum to Iran Over Potential Retaliation and Nuclear Facilities
UK and EU Reach New Economic Agreement
Coinbase CEO Warns Bitcoin Could Supplant US Dollar Amid Mounting National Debt
Trump to Iran: Make a Deal — Sign or Die
Operation "Like a Lion": Israel Strikes Iran in Unprecedented Offensive
×