7 ways the pandemic will change the world, according to Bill Gates

Bill Gates predicted the pandemic 5 years ago in a TED talk .

Thanks to this "vision" of the future, the opinion of the philanthropist has become more relevant than ever and he is listened to with attention when he gives his opinion about what will become of the world once the pandemic ends.

Gates spoke on his latest podcast, reported by Inc., about the advancement of the vaccine, what steps should be taken and life after coronavirus.

These were his main conclusions.

1. Remote Meetings Will Be Normalized

Online meetings were not very well regarded before the pandemic came into our lives.

According to the Microsoft founder , this will change when COVID-19 passes and meetings will be normalized through platforms such as Zoom.

" Now we are allowed to ask if you need to go to a site physically. It will happen with work meetings, but also with other interactions like having a doctor's appointment or a sales call, " Gates predicts.

2. The Software Will Have Improved Dramatically

Gates also predicts that the tools for meeting virtually will soon be much better than they are now.

" The software was a bit clunky when this all started, but now people are using it so much that they will be surprised how quickly we will innovate with the software, " he says.

3. Companies Can Share An Office By Rotation

Teleworking allows you to have to go to the office less, which will also bring changes.

" I think people will go to the office less. You can even share offices with another company and alternate the days your employees go," suggests Gates.

4. We Will Choose To Live In Different Places

Not only that. Teleworking will bring other changes not only to our lives, but also to cities. Thus, Gates predicts that downtown will cease to be relevant and residential areas will become more important.

" In cities that are very successful like Seattle and San Francisco ... people are spending too much on their rent, " he says. Without being anchored to an office, living in expensive areas loses appeal in favor of larger homes in smaller communities.

5. You Will Socialize Less At Work, And More In Your Community

Gates also sees a final side effect of these changes in the way we work: the way we socialize will also change and we will have more relationships with our neighbors than with co-workers.

6. Things Won't Totally Return To Normal For A Long Time

Even after a vaccine is obtained , things will not fully return to normal until the entire world defeats the disease, the billionaire argues .

" There is a phase where the numbers will be super low in the United States, but it will continue in other parts of the world, so there could be a resurgence. I think a lot of people will continue to be quite caring in their behavior, particularly if they associate with older people. whose risk of being very ill is quite high, "he says.

7. The Next Pandemic Won't Be So Bad

The positive part, according to Gates, is that the next time a disease of this magnitude arises, the world will be much more prepared to contain it.

" The main reason it will have a less destructive impact is that we will have practiced. Almost all countries will respond as South Korea or Australia did where they are very quickly testing and quarantining people, and our tools for tests will be much better. We will not be so stupid the second time, "he concludes.