Bill Gates warned that AI could kill search engines like Google and shopping giant Amazon.
The Microsoft co-founder made such remarks during his visit to the Goldman Sachs and SV Angel event, which dives into the viral topic of AI.
Bill Gates Says AI Might Kill Google and Amazon
WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 24: Microsoft principle founder Bill Gates participates in a discussion during a luncheon of the Economic Club of Washington June 24, 2019 in Washington, DC. Gates discussed various topics including climate change.
The Microsoft co-founder and philanthropist says people might no longer visit search engines or shop on Amazon as the new technology changes consumer behavior, reports CNBC.
Gates hinted that a leading AI company could eventually offer personal services, which perform tasks like searching or shopping online. The tech billionaire notes that cutting-edge technology could change our lives. Instead of searching on websites like Google, users might only visit these sites once AI takes over.
"You will never go to a search site again," Gates warned as he talked about the future of AI. As he spoke at the AI Forward 2023, an event hosted by Goldman Sachs, he also said, "[You will] never go to Amazon again" due to the arrival of cutting-edge AI assistants.
In other words, Google and Amazon might go obsolete if they remain the same.
The Microsoft co-founder believes that AI-powered assistants can disrupt the e-commerce landscape dominated by Amazon. Not to mention search engine sites like Google.
Furthermore, he predicts that upcoming AI-powered tools should assist people with their daily needs and habits. To be more precise, the billionaire notes that it should help users "read the stuff you don't have time to read."
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Gates on AI Wars
WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 24: Co-founder of Microsoft Bill Gates speaks during an event to mark the 20th anniversary of PEPFAR (President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief) at the United States Institute of Peace on February 24, 2023 in Washington, DC.
According to Reuters, a couple of firms are now developing AI-powered assistance, which should let users do all sorts of tasks, such as searching the web, by merely commanding it via text or speech.
But according to the Microsoft co-founder, who will win the ongoing AI-wars remains to be seen. Despite that, there is a 50-50 chance that the victor could either be a tech juggernaut or a burgeoning startup attempting to challenge the status quo.
Gates admits that he is impressed with tech startups braving the AI wars, specifically Inflection.AI. CNBC notes that former DeepMind executive, Mustafa Suleyman, co-founded the AI platform that got the attention of the Microsoft co-founder.
Futurism reports that Gates warned that the emergence of humanoid robots might also kill some blue-collar jobs, apart from disrupting search engines and shopping platforms.
For now, only time will tell how Google, Amazon, and other industry players respond to this challenge and adapt to the changing landscape of AI-driven technology. The two tech behemoths have yet to respond to Gates' remarks.
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