Conspiracy theories and misinformation can often be dismissed by Bill Gates as “wild,” yet his daughter Phoebe reminds us that caution is essential when discussing information online.
In the new Netflix docuseries What’s Next? The Future with Bill Gates, the 68-year-old philanthropist reflects on his success with Microsoft, acknowledging that it brought a variety of opinions about him. He notes, however, that since fully dedicating himself to philanthropy, the level of scrutiny has escalated seriously.
Phoebe cautions her father when discussing the severity of future pandemics, emphasizing the risk of comments being taken out of context and going viral
The episode begins with Gates being asked to read outlandish conspiracy theories about himself, illustrating how bizarre some claims can be. For instance, when confronted with the idea of a plot to force people to consume bugs to undermine the lower class, he quips, “I’d feel bad if I was doing that.”
When it comes to claims of belonging to a “reptilian” race, he simply shrugs, saying, “Someone mentioned this one to me.” And regarding the rumor that he and his ex-wife, Melinda French Gates, have been replaced by clones, he humorously asserts, “Melinda is still a real person,” while he does “my best.”
Bill Gates’ resilience is evident, as described by Larry Cohen, CEO of Gates Ventures, who states that the philanthropist possesses a “pretty tough skin.” Cohen adds that while some misinformation is so outrageous it elicits laughter, Gates finds the prevalence of misinformation deeply confusing and is unsure how to tackle it.
During a conversation with his daughter Phoebe, 22, he inquires if she has encountered any “crazy misinformation” about him. She replies, “All the time,” mentioning that some friends have distanced themselves due to unfounded vaccine rumors linked to her father, which the episode explores thoroughly.
Gates expresses his belief that digital communication can foster unity and encourage rational discourse, yet Phoebe gently challenges this notion. She points out that logic and facts often don’t prevail online.
She explains, “People seek an escape, want to laugh, crave engaging videos, and desire to be taken away from boring reality,” emphasizing the emotional drive behind online content.
However, the allure of entertainment doesn’t fully clarify the spread of certain conspiracy theories. Gates questions, “It’s just madness, and who promotes that?” He expresses concern about the repercussions of misinformation, particularly in light of the chaos during the COVID pandemic, pondering the dangers of a future pandemic that could be “10 times worse.”
Phoebe interjects to prevent her father from elaborating further, warning that it could lead to misunderstandings, saying, “They’re gonna think you’re gonna cause it then.” Gates chuckles, “That’s right, I’m working on it.”
Phoebe, sharing a laugh, tells the production team to “cut that,” emphasizing the risk of predicting events and how such comments can quickly go viral, potentially misleading many viewers.
Ahead of the show’s release, Gates expressed to PEOPLE that the Netflix project provided him an opportunity to discuss important issues he cares about and has learned from.
Other episodes delve into topics such as artificial intelligence and climate change. In a recent post on his Gates Notes blog, he expressed his hope to motivate “more people to have conversations about these important topics.”
He emphasized the importance of collaboration, stating, “We shouldn’t underestimate what happens when people work together and focus on a problem. I’m confident that brilliant people—especially young people—will step up with great solutions. It’s a critical time, but if we engage, there is a path to progress.”
