Bill Gates, someone who I've been inspired by and respected for years, believes that the moonshots +Google are taking isn't helping to "uplift the poor," namely +Project Loon. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but I believe his statements are ridiculous and just part of the ongoing PR stunt where Microsoft attacks everything Google. In fact, Google is doing so much to uplift the entire human population.
In an interview with +Bloomberg News (and as reported by +CNET, see link below), Gates says, "When you're dying of malaria, I suppose you'll look up and see that balloon, and I'm not sure how it'll help you... When a kid gets diarrhea, no, there's no website that relieves that. " REALLY? Or maybe the netizens and victims of the new digital age, with all of its connectivity, will search the Internet to see how to get help. Or how to find a cure. Or how to get to the closest clinic or doctor. Or allow doctors to remotely monitor or help the patient. The possibilities are endless. The part that irks me, especially, is the second part about diarrhea. Seriously. No website that helps relieve it? Maybe on Bing.
Maybe a website doesn't directly relieve diarrhea. But everyone, no matter where they're from, gets the world's knowledge at their fingertips. And even when no one in their family, neighborhood, city, town or village knows how to relieve diarrhea, they can independently find ways to cure the sickness, without waiting for anyone's help. So yes, a website can relieve diarrhea. And can relieve diarrhea of more people.
He continues, "Certainly I'm a huge believer in the digital revolution. And connecting up primary-health-care centers, connecting up schools, those are good things. But no, those are not, for the really low-income countries, unless you directly say we're going to do something about malaria."
Google is a company with limited resources (staff, time) and must focus on the mission they've set out to do. That's why aside from the company, +Sergey Brin and +Anne Wojcicki have directly donated to causes such as related to environmental issues, poverty prevention and Parkinson's disease research ($200 million), the bankroll for the first in-vitro burger ($300,000), which could lead to a sustainable and cheap supply of protein.
I find Gates' statements to be extremely biased and irresponsible. Or maybe he just doesn't understand the power of the open web. I don't think it's the latter. It's sad that Microsoft's attack has come so far and clouded Gates' judgement. Microsoft must paint a cloudy picture for anything Google nowadays.
Certainly, Project Loon may not be saving as many lives as the Gates Foundation, but that's comparing apples to oranges. When Microsoft starts even remotely trying, then let's talk.
But, any effort to promote connectivity and uplift the entire world should be commended, however small. For now, Google is doing so much more to uplift the entire human population and to make the world a better place to live than any other company, especially in the technology industry.
Mr. Gates, I have a question. Amazon. Apple. Facebook. Microsoft. How are they "uplifting the poor?"
CNET
http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-57597556-93/bill-gates-criticizes-google-for-not-uplifting-the-poor/
