Bill Gates
If Bill Gates were to start over, he says he’d dive into the artificial intelligence (AI) arms race with an “AI-centric” startup. In an interview with CNBC Make It, the Microsoft co-founder noted that today, someone could raise billions for a new AI venture with just a few rough ideas.
Gates explained that if he could secure enough capital, he’d consider building a competitor to the AI initiatives of giants like Google, Nvidia, or Microsoft-backed OpenAI. If not, he’d focus on a niche industry where AI could thrive, targeting an area with minimal competition.
His research for the upcoming Netflix docuseries “What’s Next? The Future With Bill Gates,” premiering on September 18, led to one key entrepreneurial takeaway: to succeed as a small company, you must focus on something truly unique. With AI startups already receiving over $26 billion in investment this year, Gates acknowledges that it might be late to catch up with the cutting edge, but AI’s growth will create new opportunities for tech startups.
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Still, Gates admits his hypothetical startup wouldn’t match Microsoft’s success. Back in 1976, only tech enthusiasts saw computers’ future dominance, and Gates and Paul Allen’s vision helped them corner the market. “I was lucky that my belief in software made me unique,” he said, adding that simply believing in AI isn’t unique anymore. To stand out, he’d need a fresh perspective on AI design that others haven’t grasped.
As a young entrepreneur today, Gates says he’d need to recognize something that other AI companies were missing. His advice to aspiring entrepreneurs: think about how AI could improve a business by automating tasks or generating valuable ideas. For example, AI could reduce paperwork for doctors, allowing them to spend more time with patients, he told CNN.
Gates encourages young minds at Microsoft, OpenAI, and beyond to seize the opportunities that AI presents: “You’re taking a fresher look at this than I am, and that’s your fantastic opportunity.”
