Bill Gates Urges Self-Discipline for Success, Reflects on AI, Philanthropy, and India Ties in Podcast with Nikhil Kamath

New Delhi— Microsoft co-founder and billionaire philanthropist Bill Gates has emphasized the importance of being “pretty hard on” oneself in order to work diligently and avoid self-deception. His remarks came during the second part of a candid conversation with Zerodha co-founder Nikhil Kamath on the podcast series People by WTF, released on Friday.

When Kamath asked Gates if he is hard on himself, especially during his frequent and fast-paced visits to India, Gates responded, “It is a lot of fun. No, I think if you want to work hard and not fool yourself, you better be pretty hard on yourself.”

The discussion touched upon Gates’ longstanding relationship with India. The billionaire has made multiple visits to the country, engaging with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and several Union Ministers, including JP Nadda, Hardeep Singh Puri, and Jitendra Singh. His most recent visit was in March 2025.

Speaking on artificial intelligence and its future impact, Gates projected that within the next two decades, AI will significantly reshape human life, enabling shorter workweeks and early retirements. “It’s gonna require almost a philosophical rethink about, okay, how should time be spent?” he noted.

When asked what people would do in a world where they no longer need to work, Gates said, “I don’t have to work. I choose to work.” He admitted that the notion of never working again is difficult for him to process, though he acknowledged the possibility of people retiring as early as 40.

The conversation also veered toward wealth, philanthropy, and inequality. Kamath asked Gates how making money and giving it away coexisted. Gates, who co-chairs the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, has consistently advocated for using wealth to address global health and education disparities.

On the topic of equality, Gates reflected on human nature and systems of governance, stating, “The idea of pure communism, where everybody is totally the same, is a pretty unnatural behaviour for humans.”

Gates appeared in the inaugural episode of Kamath’s podcast series last year, where he spoke about his “fantastic relationship” with India and the “amazing people” he collaborates with.