Bill Gates meets the man who created software once regarded as one of the 'biggest Microsoft enemy'
and the creator of the
Linux operating system
,
Linus Torvalds
, have publicly met for the first time. The two tech industry titans were seen together at a dinner hosted by
Mark Russinovich
, Chief Technology Officer of
Microsoft Azure
.
Tired of too many ads? go ad free now
Linux is a free and open-source operating system that was once regarded as one of the 'biggest enemies of Microsoft.'
The meeting was revealed via a LinkedIn post by Russinovich, which also included Microsoft's David Cutler. This encounter marks a significant moment, given that Linux was once considered a major competitor to Microsoft's popularity in the software world. Despite decades in the tech industry, Gates and Torvalds had never been publicly seen in a friendly setting until now.
While the exact agenda of their dinner remains undisclosed, the gathering of these influential figures is a notable moment in tech history.
What Microsoft CTO said about Bill Gates meeting Linux creator
In a LinkedIn post, Russinovich shared a selfie with Gates, Torvalds and Cutler and wrote:
'I had the thrill of a lifetime, hosting dinner for Bill Gates, Linus Torvalds and David Cutler. Linus had never met Bill, and Dave had never met Linus. No major kernel decisions were made, but maybe next dinner 😉'
Bill Gates and Linus Torvalds represent two different approaches to software development.
Gates, as the founder of Microsoft, has focused on building a closed-source, commercial software ecosystem.
His work has involved monetising software through licensing and strategic corporate practices, with an emphasis on controlling the broader ecosystem.
In contrast, Linus Torvalds is known for supporting open-source development. As the creator of Linux, Torvalds prioritised collaboration with developers and promoted software freedom over corporate interests.
Tired of too many ads? go ad free now
Torvalds has also openly critiqued Microsoft's approach in the past, often highlighting differences between open-source and proprietary software models.
The differing ideologies between Gates and Torvalds may explain why they haven't interacted much, though there's no known personal conflict. According to Russinovich, 'no major kernel decisions' were discussed during the meeting.
6 Awesome New Features Coming in Android 16!
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
India Today
an hour ago
- India Today
VeriFast app makes Telangana police best in India for passport verification
Telangana Police has been ranked the best in the country for passport verification, thanks to its homegrown digital platform, VeriFast. The app has made the process quicker, more accurate, and highly transparent, earning the state national state police consistently complete passport verifications in under three working days, far ahead of the national average. With over 2,000 verifications processed daily and an annual volume crossing 8 lakh, Telangana has managed to maintain a zero-backlog status in most police allows for dynamic reassignment of cases, which helps avoid delays even when officers are on leave or overloaded. Over 95 per cent of applicants have reported satisfaction with the process, according to feedback collected via SMS. The app also helps prevent fraud by integrating with the state's intelligence systems. Each verification goes through a multi-level check involving Field Verification Officers (FVOs), Inspectors, ACPs, and dedicated Passport Verification Cells, ensuring accuracy and runs on existing devices and supports all major platforms like Android, iOS, Windows, and Linux. This has resulted in significant cost savings for the police department. Upcoming features include letting applicants choose time slots for home visits, making the process even more citizen-friendly.B Shivadhar Reddy, Director General of Intelligence, Telangana, will receive the Certificate of Excellence from the External Affairs Minister in Delhi on June 24, observed as Passport Seva Ends IN THIS STORY#Telangana
India Today
an hour ago
- India Today
Is Trump's budget cut for STEM linked to growing AI influence in coding?
Will AI take jobs? Will it do everything that humans are capable of? These questions often cross our minds, whether we are employees or still students. The progress that AI has made in the past few years has changed the way we see the world.A recent report by The Atlantic noted that major tech companies, including Microsoft and Alphabet in US, are already using AI to write code-accounting for up to 25% of total output-because of the accuracy and efficiency it may seem worrisome, but it is true. AI is no longer the future; it is the present, and companies are quickly adapting to this new reality. The US President has recently proposed cuts in federal funding for STEM education. Now that companies are increasingly relying on AI, Trump's focus raises questions about whether STEM education will remain a mainstream priority in the this move by Trump is not making headlines now, but there is a strong chance that the global landscape will follow suit, and more companies will join this trend of using AI for other tasks as industries around the world have already integrated automation effectively. In sectors like automobile manufacturing, machines and AI systems play a dominant medical field is also no longer untouched. Machines and AI are now assisting in surgeries. Recently, it has been observed that people are even using tools like ChatGPT to seek solutions for mental health what has the US president proposed for STEM education cuts and what the companies actually want?AI WRITING CODE: THE SHIFT IN COMPANY OPERATIONSAI isn't just changing how code is written-it's starting to reshape who writes it. According to The Atlantic, the number of 22-27-year-olds working in computer science and math jobs has dropped by 8% in recent some of this is due to layoffs, automation seems to be quietly taking big players like Microsoft and Alphabet have admitted that AI is now doing a good share of the coding. At newer firms like Anthropic, junior coders are being replaced altogether by AI raises a big question-if AI is already this good at writing code, what will it mean for the next generation of developers?A new Pew Research Center survey in 2025 says nearly half of Americans -- 48%-think software engineers will be hit hardest by AI in the coming more than those worried about teachers, journalists, or even now, it was jobs with routine physical tasks that seemed most at risk. But things are changing fast. Now, high-skilled tech roles are in the shift is forcing universities to rethink. Should computer science departments shrink? Or should they start blending tech with fields like ethics, biology, or design?Students, too, face tough questions. If AI can now write code, what will make a human coder stand out? Maybe the edge lies in combining logic with creativity-thinking not just about coding, but how systems work, and how people use science isn't fading. It's just changing shape. AI and cybersecurity roles are still in demand. But the bar is rising-and NEW BOMB ON STEM EDUCATIONadvertisementThe US education system is going through a bumpy ride, and this time, it's not just about rising tuition fees. Former President Donald Trump's recent proposal to slash federal funding for STEM education has raised alarm among educators, scientists, and tech administration has called for a 75% cut to STEM programs through the National Science Foundation (NSF). That's not a small number-especially when you consider what's at stake: research, technical training, and the future of jobs in areas like AI, biotech, and puzzling is the timing. Just days after praising technical education in Michigan, Trump's budget now threatens the very system that supports it. Community colleges, which train millions in essential industries like healthcare and manufacturing, could be hit the colleges don't just offer degrees-they offer pathways into jobs that don't need a four-year diploma but still demand high-level students, who often come to the US for STEM degrees, may also feel the pinch. For over 75 years, the NSF has quietly supported this entire ecosystem. Schools like Forsyth Tech say their biotech programs wouldn't even exist without it. Now, that support may experts are already speaking out. Microsoft President Brad Smith and other leaders have warned that these cuts won't just hurt students-they could weaken national security and tech innovation in the long what happens if this proposal becomes reality? Will American colleges start cutting back STEM courses? Will fewer students pursue careers in science and engineering?It's a question with no clear answer yet-but it's one that could shape the future of US education and its place in the world.- Ends
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
Wharton professor reveals the most underrated career skill, but research says it takes more than you to master it
In the age of ambition, where résumés sparkle with credentials and LinkedIn feeds overflow with courses completed, Wharton's top-rated professor Adam Grant has dropped a hard truth, and it isn't about learning more, but about listening better. In a now-viral post on X from May, the renowned organizational psychologist wrote: 'The most underrated career skill is the ability to receive tough love. Acquiring knowledge is easy. Obtaining constructive criticism is hard. If you can't handle the truth, people stop telling you the truth.' While most people scramble to gather degrees, certifications, and the latest buzzword-filled competencies, Grant argues that one core skill quietly separates professionals who stagnate from those who soar: the ability to digest, and act upon, negative but well-meaning feedback. — AdamMGrant (@AdamMGrant) When Tough Love Feels Like a Punch This isn't the first time Grant has spotlighted this paradox. On a 2018 episode of his hit podcast WorkLife, he described what happens inside us when feedback hits a nerve. 'Negative feedback sets off alarm bells,' he explained. 'Your mind races. You start to put up shields and mount a counterattack.' This automatic defensiveness is what undermines growth. And Grant's not alone in making this case. You Might Also Like: Bill Gates predicts only three jobs will survive the AI takeover. Here is why Research published by psychologist Naomi Winstone in the Journal of Experimental Psychology found that most people remember evaluative feedback about what they've already done, but struggle to engage with directive feedback; the kind that helps improve future work. In other words, we hear the judgment louder than the advice. You Can't Do This Alone But here's the twist: even if you're open to feedback, your workplace has to make it safe, and worthwhile to receive it. Industrial psychologist Lisa Steelman, in findings presented at the Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology, showed that feedback flourishes in environments where support, empathy, and credibility are built into the culture. In workplaces that actively foster psychological safety and mentorship, people improved their performance significantly more than in unsupportive settings. So yes, being feedback-receptive is a superpower, but only if your ecosystem encourages and rewards it. You Might Also Like: AI cannot replace all jobs, says expert: 3 types of careers that could survive the automation era Feedback Is a Team Sport According to a article titled 'Constructive criticism that works' from American Psychological Association, New York University's Jay Van Bavel practices what he preaches in his Social Identity and Morality Lab. He not only shares draft papers with students but invites open critique, flipping the traditional top-down feedback model. This normalization of mutual feedback builds trust, and resilience in receiving hard truths. Wharton's Adam Grant would agree. 'The people who grow the most are the ones who take feedback the best,' he wrote, affirming that our professional development depends not just on being corrected, but on welcoming correction with humility and from environments that make it possible. From Pain to Progress Of course, constructive criticism is never fun. But what if, instead of seeing it as a bruise to our ego, we reframed it as a bridge to better? Grant, a bestselling author whose books like 'Think Again' and 'Give and Take' have become modern leadership manuals, has long preached the value of rethinking of changing your mind when faced with better evidence. And what is feedback, if not a form of evidence? You Might Also Like: Techie takes 9 years to save Rs 1 crore. But his next Rs 1 crore came in just 18 months. Shares lessons In his words, 'If you can't handle the truth, people stop telling you the truth.' Which begs the question: In your career, how many truths have you missed simply because you weren't ready to hear them? Sometimes, the most underrated skill is knowing when to shut up and listen.
