Microsoft founder Bill Gates is set to turn 70 later this year and has published a new memoir exploring how his childhood quirks, upbringing, and experiences shaped his internal operating system.
In “Source Code: My Beginnings,” the first installment of a trilogy, Gates delves into his emotional trauma, including the death of his best friend in high school. He also revisits the birth of Traf-O-Data, a startup that he launched with Paul Allen, which eventually became Microsoft.
Gates’ memoir offers a rare glimpse into his personal life, revealing himself as a “bratty smartass” who struggled to make friends and found solace in computers. He paints a picture of himself as neurodivergent, channeling his anomaly into learning to program.
The book also touches on Gates’ experiences with LSD, which he initially tried but later rebuffed. However, it doesn’t delve into his marriage or divorce, which are mentioned only briefly.
Gates is now being blown away by recent advances in artificial intelligence, a technology being integrated into Microsoft’s software as part of its partnership with ChatGPT creator OpenAI. He views AI as an “amazing and scary” technology that should be rigorously monitored.
Through his memoir, Gates hopes to humanize himself and provide a more nuanced understanding of the man behind Microsoft.
Source: https://apnews.com/article/bill-gates-book-childhood-microsoft-personal-computer-336f60ec09fd4ce6f10d24bbf0d83c33