Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates has been the subject of conspiracy theories regarding his investments in land and food systems in the United States. Despite these claims, AFP found no evidence to suggest that Gates has advocated for replacing farmers with AI. In a blog post dated March 5, Gates discussed how technology can assist farmers, emphasizing his recent trip to India and the digital public infrastructure (DPI) in Bhubaneswar. He mentioned visiting an agricultural monitoring center where government experts provide advice and updates to 6.5 million farmers via phone. Local media outlets covered this center during Gates’s visit to India.
Prior to his trip, Gates mentioned the same topic in a blog post on February 25. He detailed a program in India that offers real-time guidance to farmers, including through a chatbot that tailors information to their needs and in their local language. This program has significantly reduced crop loss due to pests and is a collaboration between the Gates Foundation, the Odisha agriculture department, and tech company Samagra.
Samagra, the tech company involved in the project, has projects like the AI-driven chatbot mentioned in Gates’s blog post. Despite efforts to reach out to them for comment, there was no response. This program is focused on improving farmers’ productivity and income, showcasing the potential benefits of utilizing technology in agriculture.
