Satya Nadella, Bill Gates, and Steve Ballmer Get Roasted by AI on Microsoft’s 50th Anniversary

Microsoft is celebrating a monumental milestone—its 50th anniversary. To mark the occasion, current CEO Satya Nadella, along with former CEOs Bill Gates and Steve Ballmer, sat down for a playful and unique conversation. However, this wasn’t your average corporate chat. The interview was conducted by an unexpected host: Copilot, Microsoft’s own AI assistant.

The fun and lighthearted video clip shared by Nadella on X (formerly Twitter) captured the historic moment. Nadella humorously kicked things off with the question, “Three Microsoft CEOs walk into a room on Microsoft’s 50th anniversary … and are interviewed by Copilot!”

The AI Roast: A Playful Twist on a Historic Conversation

The conversation soon took a playful turn when Nadella suggested, “wrap it up by asking or maybe roast giving us each an AI roast?” And that’s exactly what Copilot did—delivering some light-hearted jabs to each of the tech titans.

Steve Ballmer, known for his famously energetic presentations, was the first target. “Steve, we’ll start with you. Your enthusiasm is legendary, but do you ever worry that your energy might short-circuit the AI? I mean, even robots need a coffee break after your pep talks.”

Ballmer, never one to shy away from humor, fired back with, “Come on, dude. If you can’t handle me, you can’t handle a huge percentage of the world’s population. We’re counting on you.” It was a classic Ballmer response, showing just how much his larger-than-life personality has left an imprint on Microsoft’s culture.

Nadella, AI, and Cricket: A Friendly Jab at the Future

Then, it was Satya Nadella’s turn. Copilot playfully asked, “Satya, AI seems to be your best buddy, but ever worry that your deep passion for AI could one day have it running the show, leaving you to just enjoy the ride?” Nadella grinned, responding with his trademark wit, “Well, the day AI can play like the best cricket player that I enjoy, that’s the day it can run the show as far as I’m concerned.”

Copilot responded in kind: “Touche’ Satya, Let’s see if it can hit a century in cricket, and then we’ll talk.” This exchange offered a glimpse of Nadella’s personality, blending his love for AI with his deep passion for cricket—a sport that has always had a special place in his heart.

Bill Gates: A Gaze to Be Reckoned With

Bill Gates, the co-founder of Microsoft, also had his moment in the spotlight. Copilot, with its signature humor, asked Gates, “Do AIs feel intimidated by your intense thinking face?” Gates, never short of self-deprecating humor, replied, “I hope so. I mean, that’s all I’ve got left, is these AIs get so damn intelligent. It’s just that gaze and my willingness to criticize that differentiates me.”

In a delightful exchange, Steve Ballmer chimed in, asking, “Copilot, would you ever be willing to criticize him?” To which Copilot responded, “Absolutely. Criticism is where growth happens.” The playful back-and-forth between the three former and current Microsoft leaders highlighted the camaraderie and respect they share, despite the decades of leadership that separate them.