Gabe Newell Opens Up About Daily Life, Work Ethic, and AI Projects in Rare Interview

In a surprising new interview, Valve co-founder Gabe Newell offered a rare glimpse into his personal and professional life—touching on his daily routine, views on work, and current projects. Known for his reclusive nature and general aversion to media appearances, Newell’s comments immediately caught the attention of the gaming community.

A Peek Into Gabe's Everyday Life

Newell revealed that his day-to-day life includes activities like scuba diving and working out, alongside his ongoing work at Valve. Despite his private persona, the man behind Half-Life and Steam maintains an active role in various tech and gaming ventures.

What makes this interview particularly noteworthy is Newell’s choice of interviewer: Zalkar Saliev, a small YouTuber with just 19 subscribers. While unexpected, this move fits Newell’s history of occasionally engaging with fans in unconventional ways. The interview has since been confirmed as authentic by PC Gamer.

Work Without Boundaries: Newell's Philosophy

Newell shared that he works seven days a week—often directly from his bedroom—but doesn't see it as work in the traditional sense.

“To me, it doesn’t feel like work,” he explained. “The kinds of things that I get to do every day are super awesome.”

He went on to compare his routine to a kind of early retirement:

“When you retire, you want to stop doing your horrible job and go do what’s most fun and entertaining. In that sense, I’ve been retired a long time.”

This candid reflection offered fans a deeper understanding of how Newell views his lifelong involvement in the industry—not as a burden, but as a source of continuous inspiration and fulfillment.

Hints at Ongoing Projects Involving AI and Steam

Newell also briefly mentioned that he's currently involved in a variety of projects, including initiatives related to AI and Steam. While he didn’t elaborate, his comments come shortly after reports surfaced that nearly 8,000 games on Steam now incorporate Generative AI in some form.

His remarks add to the broader conversation around AI in game development. Even Ubisoft’s new Co-CEO has indicated that artificial intelligence will likely shape the company’s future strategy. While it remains unclear what specific “AI stuff” Newell is working on, the mere mention from such a major figure in PC gaming is enough to generate speculation.