Steve Jobs and Bill Gates Historic Interview. 15 minutes, 750k views

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Steve Jobs, Bill Gates

Steve Jobs and Bill Gates Historic Interview.

Steve Jobs and Bill Gates appeared together for a rare and historic joint interview at the D5 Conference (the fifth annual All Things Digital Conference), hosted by Walt Mossberg and Kara Swisher. This event was highly anticipated due to the long history and rivalry between the two tech titans who had shaped much of the modern computing world.

Here are some key takeaways from the interview:

Reflecting on Their Relationship:
- The interview explored their personal and professional relationship, from their early collaborations in the 1970s and 1980s to their competition in the following decades.
- Jobs and Gates expressed mutual respect. Jobs acknowledged Gates’ contributions to software and the business side of technology, while Gates praised Jobs for his visionary leadership and design focus.
Their Early Days:
- The interview touched on how Microsoft and Apple began working together in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Gates developed software for the Apple II, which was one of Microsoft’s early sources of revenue.
- They reflected on the development of the Macintosh, with Microsoft creating applications for it, even as Windows emerged as a competitor.
Rivalry and Differences:
- While much of the media painted their relationship as a bitter rivalry, the interview revealed a more complex dynamic. Gates and Jobs had profound differences in how they approached technology: Jobs was a perfectionist focused on design and user experience, while Gates was a pragmatist with a deep understanding of software and business.
- Despite these differences, the two often shared a mutual understanding and admiration.
Industry Reflections:
- They also talked about the state of the tech industry at that time, including the evolution of personal computers, the rise of the internet, and the future of mobile technology.
- Jobs’ emphasis on aesthetics and integration (which would later manifest in products like the iPhone) contrasted with Gates’ focus on making technology more widely available and usable.
Humor and Humanity:
- The interview was notable for its lighter moments. Gates and Jobs displayed humor and humility, making jokes about their past and their companies. This helped humanize both figures, showing that despite their roles as competitors, they had a shared history and a deep understanding of one another’s impact on the industry.

The D5 interview was significant not just for what they discussed but also for symbolizing a moment of reconciliation and reflection between two figures who had been central to the tech revolution.