From Midnight Coding to Changing the World: Bill Gates Looks Back (and Ahead) with Brad Smith

It’s not every day you get to hear a genuine pioneer reflect on the journey that literally reshaped our world. As Microsoft approaches its 50th anniversary, co-founder Bill Gates sat down with the company’s current President, Brad Smith, for a special episode of the “Tools and Weapons” podcast. And what makes this conversation really stand out isn’t just the history, but the very human perspective that comes from two people who’ve known each other for over three decades.

Brad kicks things off by reminding us of the sheer audacity of Microsoft’s original dream. Bill recalls his early days, not just founding a company as a student, but the hustle it took before that – hearing about a lab computer sitting unused from midnight to 3 AM and figuring out how to sneak in and grab precious time on it. That scarcity makes the early Microsoft vision – “A computer on every desk and in every home” – feel even more radical. As Bill notes, today people might shrug at that phrase, but back then? It was revolutionary. And he admits, “It’s crazy that the dream came true.“

The conversation touches on Bill’s new book, “Source Code,” which dives into those formative years. We hear about the Lakeside School’s Mothers’ Club funding early computer access, learning BASIC on a clunky terminal connected to a distant GE mainframe, and the vital partnership with Paul Allen. Even with that big vision, Bill shares they were constantly “running scared,” worried about surviving year-to-year, acutely aware of how quickly other tech giants of the time had lost their way. That constant pressure, he suggests, was actually a strength.

It wasn’t just about the tech, though. The podcast brings out the personal side – the intense collaboration (and maybe some youthful intensity!) that fueled the early days. Bill talks about projects like building payroll software as teenagers, essentially kids working in an adult world, learning from experienced programmers at places like TRW and Digital Equipment Corporation who gave them feedback – and eventually, crucial contracts. He also touches on bringing in key figures like Steve Ballmer, recognizing the need for different skills to scale the dream.

Of course, Bill’s story didn’t stop at Microsoft. He talks about the transition to focusing full-time on the Gates Foundation since 2008, applying that same problem-solving, innovation-focused mindset to global health, education, and agriculture. Brad points out how Bill seems just as personally invested in tackling challenges like malaria or improving farming in Africa as he ever was in software – a testament to a lifelong curiosity and drive.

Looking ahead, Bill sees the current AI revolution as potentially even more profound than the original digital one. He talks about the shift from computing power being scarce and expensive to the possibility of intelligence itself becoming abundant and nearly free. The implications, from personalized tutoring for every child to accelerating scientific discovery (like finding cures for diseases), are staggering.

What shines through is the perspective gained over 50 years – the journey from scrounging for computer time to making that original wild dream a reality, and now applying those lessons to huge global challenges, powered by the next wave of technology. Hearing Bill reflect with Brad, someone who’s been part of that journey for so long, offers unique insights.

If you’re interested in the origins of the digital world we live in, the challenges of building something lasting, or where technology might take us next, this conversation between two key figures in tech history is definitely worth a listen.

You can find the full episode of Tools and Weapons with Brad Smith featuring Bill Gates below.