Somehow the conversation with Bill Gates always turns to food. And lately, AI.
Gates was back in New York City for the annual Gates Foundation Goalkeepers event this week, and he stopped by the “Late Show with Stephen Colbert” Wednesday night. Part of the discussion centered on food at rather opposite ends of the nutritional spectrum.
Gates — a well-known burger guy in his hometown of Seattle — posted a video on Instagram where he was shown ordering and eating a hot dog from a classic New York street cart. “Did you even go to New York if you didn’t have a hot dog,” he asked in the caption for the video, which featured music from the Beastie Boys.
“You need some money? Why you eatin’ a hot dog on the street?” Colbert asked the world’s sixth richest person at the start of their interview. He followed up by asking if Gates put ketchup on the dog, and when Gates said “a lot,” Colbert expressed a mustard lover’s dismay and said, “I’m afraid that’s all we have time for, Bill.”
On a more serious consumption note, Gates and Colbert discussed the actual goals of Goalkeepers, and Gates’ philanthropic focus on curbing childhood malnutrition and mortality.
The two shared nips of vitamin-enriched bouillon cubes that Gates said can help families in impoverished nations get more nutrition into their children.
“It’s kind of magical,” Gates said.
“Mmm, niacin,” Colbert said. “That is salty. I’d like to rub that on a Dorito.”
In a second segment, Gates discussed his new Netflix series “What’s Next? The Future with Bill Gates,” which features an episode with Sen. Bernie Sanders, who is no fan of billionaires.
The Microsoft co-founder said Sanders would like to tax away 99% of his wealth, leaving Gates with just $1.3 billion.
“I’m so sorry,” Colbert laughed. “I wouldn’t want anyone to have only $1.3 billion. What are we talking, Mark Cuban money here?”
Gates said he is also “somewhat” worried about the rise of artificial intelligence, calling it “the first technology that has no limit.” But he admitted there is a lot of good stuff crowded out by fears of AI, such as tutors for inner-city kids, and health care advances, and tools like OpenAI’s ChatGPT demonstrate how quickly the technology is learning.
Two months ago, Melinda French Gates made an appearance on Colbert’s show, where she discussed her own philanthropic pursuits. She also discussed her new YouTube series and made a presidential endorsement.
