Despite being ousted from Microsoft Corp MSFT in 2021 over allegations of misconduct, Bill Gates has been quietly orchestrating the company’s AI revolution from the shadows.
What Happened: Gates, who was accused of inappropriate behavior towards female employees, has been advising on strategy, reviewing products, and nurturing Microsoft’s relationship with OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, Business Insider reported on Tuesday.
Publicly, Gates has been largely absent from Microsoft’s operations since 2021, amid allegations of inappropriate behavior toward female employees.
He played a pivotal role in the development of Copilot, an AI tool that has helped Microsoft become the world’s most valuable public company. Gates has also been involved in the development of Bing, which was turbocharged with the same technology as ChatGPT, to compete with Google.
Despite the public distancing from Gates, Microsoft executives have confirmed his continued influence on the company’s AI efforts. Gates has been advising on product roadmaps and has been instrumental in recruiting and retaining key executives for Microsoft, according to the report.
“What you read is not what’s happening in reality,” a Microsoft executive said. “Satya and the entire senior leadership team lean on Gates very significantly. His opinion is sought every time we make a major change.”
Gates’ influence on Microsoft’s AI strategy has been significant, despite the public perception that he had been kept at arm’s length following his ousting in 2021. The report reveals that Gates’ role as a technical advisor at Microsoft has remained largely unchanged since he left the board in 2020.
Despite the scandal, Gates’ influence on Microsoft’s AI strategy has been pivotal, and his vision for the company’s AI future has been a driving force behind its recent successes.
Microsoft did not immediately respond to Benzinga's request for comment.
Why It Matters: Gates’ continued influence at Microsoft is significant in light of his recent comments on AI. In a recent podcast episode, Gates expressed concern that AI could take his job, highlighting the rapid advancements in AI models like ChatGPT.
However, Gates also acknowledged the potential benefits of AI, despite its limitations. He emphasized that AI’s potential benefits for humanity are too significant to ignore.
Furthermore, Gates believes that AI will play a crucial role in addressing climate change by allowing scientists to genetically modify beef cows. This aligns with his long-standing interest in AI and its potential to address global challenges.
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