Microsoft co-founder and philanthropist Bill Gates has praised India’s role in global innovation, highlighting the country’s advancements in vaccines, artificial intelligence (AI), and digital infrastructure.
In an interview with Times Now, Gates emphasized the far-reaching impact of India’s digital public infrastructure (DPI) and its growing global influence. Reflecting on his long association with India, he said that the country has always been a hub of talent, something he recognized even during his early days at Microsoft. He cited Satya Nadella, an Indian-origin leader, as an example of India’s contribution to the global tech landscape.
“Even in my Microsoft days, I got to see the depth of talent here. Now, Microsoft has so many great people from India, including Satya Nadella, who’s doing a fantastic job. When I started the foundation, I knew that in terms of improving children’s lives, India would be a place we’d want to be active in partnership with the government. That innovative spirit has spread beyond digital infrastructure and vaccines. It is now transforming agriculture, AI, and diagnostics, especially post-pandemic, where we’ve seen an acceleration,” Gates said.
He also acknowledged India’s thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem, pointing out that many startups are leveraging DPI to develop cost-effective solutions with high impact.
“The financing for entrepreneurs here has been very strong. Some are building on DPI infrastructure, and the successful ones are setting a good example by starting their philanthropy at a young age. It’s exciting to come here and see not only effective innovations but ones that are done in such a clever way that costs remain low,” he added.
Gates praised India’s contribution to global healthcare, particularly in vaccine development and distribution. He highlighted how India’s manufacturing capabilities have played a critical role in ensuring affordable and accessible vaccines worldwide.
“The partnerships we’ve built here—both in delivering new vaccines and inventing new solutions—are remarkable. The majority of the world’s low-cost vaccines are made by key foundation partners in India. This has not only saved millions of lives here but also in other countries,” he said.
Addressing concerns that India is being used as a “laboratory” for vaccine testing, Gates dismissed such claims, emphasizing the rigorous safety measures in place.
“It’s all about innovation. Nobody is more careful about ensuring vaccines are super safe than Indian regulators, who play a critical role in guiding us on these developments,” he clarified.
Gates also discussed the transformative role of AI in India, outlining three major areas where artificial intelligence can significantly improve lives: agriculture, healthcare, and education.
He explained how AI-powered solutions could revolutionize farming, particularly for small-scale farmers. By integrating weather prediction models, soil analysis, and government credit program information, AI can provide valuable insights to farmers, helping them increase productivity and mitigate risks such as pest infestations.
Similarly, in healthcare, Gates envisioned AI as a tool to bridge gaps in medical accessibility. He spoke about how AI chatbots could assist pregnant women in understanding best practices or clarifying doctors’ advice, with support available in local dialects through voice or text-based interfaces.
Education was another area where Gates saw immense potential for AI. He described AI-powered tutoring as a game-changer, providing students with round-the-clock access to personalized learning tools, helping improve motivation and engagement.
“AI can serve as the world’s best tutor, always available and keeping students motivated. This could be a game-changer in ensuring quality education for all,” he added.
Gates also spoke about India’s long-term development goals, praising its ambitious vision for 2047. He noted that both the central and state governments are actively working to drive economic growth, making the vision of a fully developed India by 2047 an achievable target.
“The vision of making India a fully developed country by 2047 is very impressive. Not only is the central government working towards this goal, but individual states are also strategizing on how to accelerate economic progress,” he said.
However, he expressed concerns over ongoing global conflicts, such as the war in Ukraine and unrest in the Middle East, which he said are diverting crucial resources away from aid and development projects.
“Unfortunately, wars are diverting resources that should be going into health initiatives, particularly for Africa. It’s taking away crucial funding for aid and debt relief,” he said.
(Inputs from ANI)
