‘Let’s Debate From What’s True’: Former Microsoft CEO Talks New ‘Facts’ Venture, AI With Ben Shapiro

Former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer told Daily Wire Editor Emeritus Ben Shaprio he wants to help center political discussions and debate around truth and facts – and numbers. 

Speaking to Shaprio on “The Sunday Special” this week, Ballmer talked about his new venture, USA Facts, which seeks to put out statistical information so the American people can better understand issues without partisan interjection. 

“Here are the numbers. And before you have your damn debate, at least let’s debate from what’s true,” Ballmer said. “And let’s not be like a politician – just grab one number out of the ether and give it no context to somehow alarm people or excite people.” 

Shapiro highlighted a USA Facts video in which Ballmer outlines illegal immigration by the numbers, showing how millions of illegals have entered the United States every year under the Biden-Harris administration. The video, posted in August, has racked up nearly 8.5 million views. 

Shapiro noted that some of the information might offend people on the political Left due to the polarizing nature of politics. Ballmer acknowledged that he has seen partisan reactions, but remains hopeful. For example, he said he’s been in meetings with politicians from both sides of the aisle to provide them with statistical information. 

“We’ve been able to have a set of bipartisan meetings to discuss the facts, more so in the Senate, with Sen. Romney, Sen. Schumer,” Ballmer outlined. “But we’ve had very conservative Republicans and very liberal, so to speak, Democrats sit with us — together — and go through the numbers. Now, people may process them differently, but at least I’ve found there’s some bipartisanship in this notion, at least of some group of people in looking at the numbers.”

Ballmer also spoke to Shapiro about artificial intelligence. He said the technology will be as transformative as the development of the internet and microprocessors. Balmer noted that he has little concern about artificial intelligence putting Americans out of work. 

“I think it is as big as the rise of microprocessors,” he told Shapiro. “And with microprocessors, I guess I can include PCs, phones, all of that, the Internet and now AI.”

AI could, for example, help you plan out a European business trip. It can outline sales data for customers, “it can find the briefing documents for our team, it can summarize all that, it can put it together,” he said. 

“That’s a very valuable scenario from my perspective, really game-changing in terms of making people more productive and frankly changing what jobs will exist in our workforce and what jobs want,” Ballmer continued. 

“I’ll give you another example that’s more in the personal realm,” he said. AI can plan your trip to France after you plug in your budget, for example. “If you’ve never been to France before, hey, this is an astonishing thing that you can go do.”

“Hey, look, as a scientist, we’re trying to rapidly do a bunch of experiments for, I don’t know, cancer research,” Baller said, outlining another application of AI. “There’s just so many good examples.”

Ballmer argued that new developments would change the employment landscape, but not put Americans out of work. 

“How many jobs can we automate?” Ballmer posed. “I’m a big believer that our economy is resilient. If we automate away some piece of work, a new door will open.”

“I don’t fear that because there’s been so many innovations that have led to net growth as opposed to net shrinkage in what we do,” he added. “So for me, I’m bullish now.”