Bill Gates predicted the “death” of Google and Amazon due to AI

Bill Gates has expressed his belief that the emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) could potentially reshape the landscape of major tech companies such as Google Search and Amazon. Speaking at a recent event on AI hosted by Goldman Sachs and SV Angel, the Microsoft co-founder stated that the first company to develop a highly advanced AI personal assistant would gain a significant advantage over its competitors.

Gates emphasized that this revolutionary technology could fundamentally alter user behaviors to the extent that individuals would no longer need to visit search websites, utilize specific productivity tools, or even shop on Amazon. However, Gates acknowledged that it would take some time before this powerful digital agent is ready for widespread adoption.

According to Gates, the future leading company in the field of AI will likely be the one that creates a personal digital agent capable of performing various tasks on behalf of individuals. The impact of this technology is expected to be profound, potentially causing a major shift in user behaviors. Gates suggested that once the winner in the personal agent domain emerges, people would no longer rely on search sites, productivity platforms, or Amazon for their needs. He made these remarks during the Goldman Sachs and SV Angel event, where he highlighted the potential of AI to understand users’ preferences and habits and assist them in managing information overload effectively.

While Gates expressed his hope that Microsoft would be at the forefront of this AI revolution, he also acknowledged the potential for startups to play a significant role. He specifically mentioned Inflection.AI, founded by former DeepMind executive Mustafa Suleyman, as an impressive startup in the AI space. Gates emphasized that it would still take some time for this advanced digital agent technology to reach mainstream usage. In the meantime, companies are expected to integrate generative AI technologies like OpenAI’s ChatGPT into their own products.

Beyond AI’s impact on tech companies, Gates also discussed the potential of AI in healthcare and drug development. He expressed optimism about the acceleration of innovation in these areas, with the possibility of advanced drug development to combat diseases like Alzheimer’s. Gates also highlighted the growing influence of generative AI technologies in transforming the work landscape, affecting both white-collar and blue-collar workers.