Bill Gates Says If He Started Microsoft Today, He'd Focus On This Industry Instead

Microsoft co-founder and one of the world’s most prominent tech visionaries, Bill Gates, is turning his attention toward a new type of technology.

In an interview with CNBC, Gates said that if he were to launch a startup today, he would leave his software roots behind and focus squarely on artificial intelligence (AI).

"Today, somebody could raise billions of dollars for a new AI company [that's just] a few sketch ideas," Gates told CNBC, reflecting AI’s fervor. So far this year, startups in the field have attracted more than $26 billion in investments, according to CNBC citing data from PitchBook.

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If Microsoft’s co-founder were to embark on the venture, Gates said his AI company would aim to compete with tech giants like Nvidia, Google and OpenAI or find an area where AI could deliver unique value.

“To really stand out as a small company, you have to pick something you're going to do uniquely," Gates told CNBC.

His shift in focus from software to AI mirrors a changing tech landscape. CNBC noted that when Microsoft was founded in 1976, Gates and co-founder Paul Allen were among the few who envisioned a future where computers would be part of everyday life.

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"I was lucky that my belief in software made me unique," Gates said. "Just believing in AI, that's not unique. So I would have to develop some unique view of how you design AI systems – something that other people didn't get."

The billionaire said that entering the AI space at this stage comes with its own set of challenges. With foundational technologies already being developed by well-funded companies, new entrants may struggle to make an impact. Gates told entrepreneurs to focus on how AI could address specific business needs or improve daily life – whether by automating expensive tasks or generating strategic insights with broader applications.

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At 68, Gates' priorities have shifted. While he once measured success by Microsoft’s growth, today he is more focused on adding value to the world, particularly through his philanthropic work with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and his clean-energy investment firm, Breakthrough Energy.

He has been encouraging younger minds at Microsoft, OpenAI and other tech companies to push the boundaries of AI, telling them, "Because you're taking a fresher look at this than I am, and that's your fantastic opportunity."

Just as his early faith in personal computing was prophetic, Gates' focus on AI may again prove to be a bellwether for the future of technology.

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