Bill Gates Talks Working with Daughter Phoebe on His New Netflix Show: 'Fun to See Her Energy' (Exclusive)

“I'm deeply curious about a lot of things and trying to think how I can play a role in those things,” the billionaire philanthropist tells PEOPLE

There’s always something around the corner for Bill Gates — and that’s entirely by design.

“I get to control my schedule,” the billionaire philanthropist tells PEOPLE. “So if I’m not having mostly good days, that’s kind of strange.”

“Unlike in my 20s, I do take time off. I go to the Olympics, I play a lot of tennis. I get to read a lot of books,” adds Gates, 68.

Of course, it's not all rest and relaxation for the Microsoft co-founder — but one project he hesitates to call work is his new Netflix docuseries, What's Next? The Future with Bill Gates, which begins streaming on Sept. 18 and touches on major social issues including the rise of artificial intelligence.

“It wasn't hard in any way,” Gates says of the thought-provoking project. “It was a real chance to talk about topics that I care about and I have views on, and I learned a lot."

Something that comes up frequently with Gates, and is central to his Netflix show, is learning.

“I'm deeply curious about a lot of things and trying to think how I can play a role in those things,” he tells PEOPLE, noting that part of the journey means examining what works and being honest about what doesn’t, including when it comes to the question often asked about him and other members of the world's ultra-wealthy: “Can you be too rich?”

Although he doesn’t agree with every opinion on the matter — like, say, outlawing all billionaires — Gates says it’s clear the system isn’t working. 

“I believe that the U.S. tax system should be more progressive and that people like myself, even though I paid over $10 billion in taxes, I probably should have paid three times as much, or some people would say even more,” he says.

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Still, even in the current economic system, billionaires aren’t only self-interested, he has long sought to show.

Gates, who has, for years, committed himself to giving away the majority of his wealth to charity, says that when he invests in new companies, he’s motivated by the idea that any success can be funneled back into his foundation.

Ultimately, it’s a nuanced conversation, which he feels was addressed in a “balanced” way on the show, including through a conversation with progressive Sen. Bernie Sanders, a champion of addressing economic inequality.

“I like the way that episode came out,” says Gates, who thinks viewers “will hear both sides pretty clearly.”

As for his own billionaire status, Gates says he doesn't know where he falls on the lists but he guesses he's probably still in the top 10 — as of publication time, he does hold Forbes' No. 7 spot — something he suspects will change a lot in the "years ahead."

"I've given a lot away," he says. "Now I'm encouraging the other guys to give money too, but I think I'll stay ahead on that."

Related: Bill Gates to ‘Reflect on the Luck I Had’ in Debut Memoir — See the Cover!

Although there's plenty to be uncertain about, Gates' optimism for the future shines through in the series, including when he talks about the next generation of problem-solvers, including his 21-year-old daughter, Phoebe.

"It's fun to see her energy," he says of the recent Stanford University graduate, who had a lot to say in the show when it came to the topic of misinformation, sharing that she'd had people cut ties with her due to conspiracy theories revolving around her dad.

"How do you balance this free speech vs. completely false stuff that causes people not to do the right things for their health, or even in some cases incites violence?" Gates asks, calling the issue an "unsolved problem."

Just like in the series, when Gates talks about spending time with Phoebe, lighter moments easily come to mind.

During the filming, Gates recalls that his youngest "decided to bring bubble tea — which she was not successful at getting me to like."

"It has a strange texture that drinks are not supposed to have," he adds. "So she may keep trying on that because she's a big fan. I don't know."

Related: Phoebe Gates Shares Moment That Led Her to Start Donating Millions to Abortion Rights Groups

Ultimately, though society will never have all the answers to every question out there, Gates says that it's important — especially for young activists — not to get overwhelmed by a "sense of despair" and "feel that we're doomed."

Even when working on problems that are "taking longer than we expected," Gates says that he and the people he works with remain committed, saying, "We're going to get to the finish line."

What’s Next? The Future with Bill Gates premiers Sept 18 on Netflix.

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