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Microsoft co-founder, Bill Gates, is sounding the alarm about the potential obsolescence of search engines like Google Search due to the rise of AI assistants. During a recent AI-focused event in San Francisco, Gates emphasized the significance of winning the battle for personal agents, stating, “Whoever wins the personal agent, that’s the big thing, because you will never go to a search site again, you will never go to a productivity site, you’ll never go to Amazon again.” He believes AI assistants will revolutionize online behaviors by offering users the ability to access information without relying on traditional search engines.
While Gates did not explicitly target Google’s search engine, he previously suggested that the company’s “search profits will be down” due to Microsoft’s agile response in the AI field. The competition among tech giants to secure a leading position in AI-driven internet experiences has intensified, leaving even Gates uncertain about the ultimate outcome. He estimates a 50-50 chance for either startups or established tech giants to emerge victorious in what he refers to as the “AI wars.”
Gates expressed his faith in Microsoft’s potential but also acknowledged promising startups like Inflection, co-founded by former DeepMind executive Mustafa Suleyman. Gates has long been an advocate for AI advancements and recently predicted that AI could eventually assist in teaching children how to read, even acting as writing feedback aids. However, he cautioned that it will take time for AI assistants to fully replace search engines. In the interim, companies will continue incorporating technologies like ChatGPT into their products.
During the event, Gates also raised concerns about the potential impact of humanoid robots, suggesting that they could not only replace white-collar workers but also blue-collar ones. As the AI wars intensify, tech giants are fiercely competing for dominance, potentially reshaping the internet’s landscape from what we are familiar with today.
Nonetheless, the question of whether Microsoft can surpass Google as the primary gateway to the internet, particularly in the Western world, remains uncertain, despite Gates’ aspirations and visions.
