You probably still picture Bill Gates hunched over a computer or maybe jumping over an office chair in that famous 90s clip. But that version of Bill is long gone. Honestly, if you look at what he’s doing right now, in early 2026, it’s less about software and more about a race against time. He’s essentially trying to spend his way out of a global crisis before his own foundation shuts its doors for good.
He calls it "optimism with footnotes."
That phrase popped up in his most recent annual letter, and it’s a bit of a reality check. For the first time this century, child mortality rates actually went up—hitting 4.8 million deaths in 2025. It’s a gut punch for a guy who has spent two decades obsessed with that specific number. So, if you’re wondering what Bill Gates does these days, the answer is simple: he’s pivoting. He’s moving from just "funding things" to a full-blown emergency response to save the progress the world is currently losing.
The $9 Billion Annual Sprint
It’s hard to wrap your head around the scale here. Just this month, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation board endorsed a massive $9 billion payout for 2026. This isn't just a random big number; it’s the peak of a four-year plan to ramp up spending before the foundation officially closes in 2045.
Think about that. He’s not building an eternal monument. He’s trying to put himself out of a job.
Most of his daily life is now spent on what he calls "strategic reviews." This isn't corporate fluff. He’s meeting with health workers in Africa, scientists in Seattle, and religious leaders who can help convince governments to stop cutting their aid budgets. He’s particularly worried that rich countries are pulling back on global health funding, which he warns could lead to 12 million more child deaths by 2045 if the trend isn't reversed.
He’s also doing something a bit controversial: shrinking his own team. Even as the foundation spends record amounts, they’re cutting about 500 staff positions over the next few years. Why? Because he wants more of that money going directly to the regions facing the highest disease burdens—specifically India and sub-Saharan Africa—rather than keeping it all in a posh Seattle headquarters.
Nuclear Reactors and the Meta Deal
While the foundation handles the vaccines, Bill’s private money is doing something entirely different. You’ve likely heard of TerraPower, his nuclear innovation company. Well, it just got a massive boost. In a deal that feels very "2026," Meta (the Facebook people) signed an agreement to use TerraPower’s Natrium reactors to power their AI data centers.
AI needs an ungodly amount of power.
Bill knows this better than anyone.
The Natrium technology is basically a 345 MW sodium fast reactor. It’s paired with a molten salt storage system, which is fancy talk for "it can store extra energy for when the grid is stressed." By 2032, we might see eight of these things running because of this partnership. For Gates, this is the ultimate "two birds, one stone" scenario. He gets to prove that advanced nuclear is safe and viable, while also solving the carbon footprint of the AI revolution he’s so bullish on.
What Bill Gates Does With AI (It’s Not What You Think)
Gates is obsessed with AI, but not for writing poems or making deepfakes. He’s looking at it through the lens of a farmer in a poor country.
He recently committed $1.4 billion to help small-scale farmers who are getting hammered by extreme weather. He believes that by the end of 2026, AI tools will provide these farmers with better advice on soil, seeds, and weather than even the wealthiest farmers in the US have right now. It’s about "leapfrogging"—skipping the slow development stages and going straight to high-tech solutions.
But he’s also scared.
In his latest talks, he’s been remarkably blunt about the risks. He’s called out "bioterrorism" as his top AI concern. He’s worried that a non-government group could use open-source AI to design a bioweapon that’s even worse than a natural pandemic. It’s a dark thought, but it’s where his mind is. When he’s not looking at crop yields, he’s thinking about how to build "digital immune systems" to stop the next disaster before it starts.
The Daily Routine of a Billionaire "Optimist"
If you saw his calendar, you'd probably have a panic attack.
It’s a mix of:
- Learning Trips: He still goes on these deep-dive visits to see how programs are working on the ground.
- Breakthrough Energy Ventures: Managing a portfolio of climate-tech startups that are trying to make "green" versions of cement and steel.
- The Giving Pledge: Checking in with other billionaires to make sure they aren't hoarding their cash.
- Reading: He’s still the world’s most famous bookworm, often sharing reviews of complex science texts on his blog, Gates Notes.
He even uses AI for his own health. He mentioned recently that he uses these tools to better understand his own data, looking for patterns that a human doctor might miss. He’s basically a living lab for the technologies he funds.
The "Pragmatic" Climate Pivot
The most interesting shift in what Bill Gates does is his stance on climate change. Lately, he’s been telling world leaders to stop being so "apocalyptic" and start being more pragmatic.
He made waves by saying he’d let the global temperature go up 0.1 degree if it meant we could eradicate malaria today. That’s a massive statement. It shows his priority: human suffering over abstract goals. He’s pushing for "climate adaptation"—helping people live through the heat—rather than just focusing on "mitigation" or stopping the heat entirely.
He’s betting on innovation to save us, not just regulation. Whether it's super-efficient heat pumps from companies like Dandelion or Luxwall’s vacuum-insulated windows, he’s putting his money where the physical solutions are.
Actionable Insights for You
Bill’s 2026 strategy isn't just for billionaires. There are things you can take away from his "optimism with footnotes" approach:
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- Watch the Nuclear Space: The Meta/TerraPower deal is a signal that nuclear is becoming the "green" backbone of big tech. Keep an eye on energy stocks and local policy shifts toward advanced reactors.
- AI for Productivity: Gates notes that AI is making software developers twice as efficient. If you aren't using agentic AI tools in your work yet, you're falling behind the curve he’s watching.
- Focus on Adaptation: Whether in your investments or your home, look into "adaptation tech"—insulation, efficient cooling, and resilient gardening. The world is getting hotter; being prepared is the "Bill Gates" way to handle it.
- The Power of "Footnotes": Stay optimistic, but be honest about the data. If a project isn't working (like the child mortality numbers), pivot quickly instead of pretending everything is fine.
Bill Gates is currently in a sprint to the 2045 finish line. He’s trading his reputation for results, moving fast, and breaking the old rules of "polite" philanthropy to ensure his money actually changes the world before he's gone.
To stay updated on his specific project milestones, you should subscribe to the Gates Notes newsletter or follow the quarterly reports from the Breakthrough Energy portfolio. These provide the raw data behind his "optimistic" claims and show exactly where the next $9 billion is going.