In a recent episode of Bill Gates’ podcast, “Unconfuse Me,” tech titans Sam Altman and Bill Gates opened up about their phone habits, shedding light on the most-used apps in their daily lives. For Altman, the co-chairman of OpenAI, the standout app is Slack, a popular messaging platform. Altman humorously remarked, “I wish I could say ChatGPT,” indicating his association with OpenAI’s language models. He revealed that Slack dominates his usage, surpassing even email and becoming an integral part of his daily routine. iMessage also ranks high in Altman’s app usage, securing a close second place.
Interestingly, Altman’s preference for Slack may resonate with the amusing revelation that OpenAI employees opt for Google Meet over Microsoft Teams, despite Microsoft’s significant investment in the company.
On the other hand, Bill Gates, co-founder of Microsoft, is a self-proclaimed “old-style email guy.” He cited Outlook as his most frequently used app, emphasizing his reliance on email for communication. Additionally, Gates mentioned the browser as a crucial tool for accessing news content.
The podcast also delved into the tech moguls’ concerns about artificial intelligence (AI). Altman expressed apprehension about the rapid pace of societal adaptation to AI transformations and the subsequent changes in the labor market. Both Altman and Gates discussed the challenges posed by accelerating technological revolutions.
Altman briefly touched on his recent experience of being ousted from OpenAI, citing concerns about his leadership. However, he highlighted the positive outcome of the situation, stating that the team at OpenAI has never felt more productive or optimistic. Altman’s return to lead a new AI research unit at Microsoft reflects the dynamic nature of the tech industry and the evolving landscape of AI research and development. The conversation with Gates provided valuable insights into the personal and professional lives of these influential figures in the tech world.
