Bill Gates: 'AI can replace Google Search'

The Microsoft co-founder thinks AI can create virtual assistants, completely changing the way users use tools like Google Search.

"The next breakthrough will be AI assistants. This technology can completely change the behavior of users. They may never need to search sites like Google Search or browse online stores like Amazon. more," Bill Gates said at an AI event on May 22.

Bill Gates thinks that the AI ​​assistant can understand the needs and habits of users, helping them "surf and read things that require a lot of time". Big tech corporations and startups have an equal chance in developing this kind of future AI.

Microsoft founder Bill Gates. Photo: Reuters

"I would be very disappointed if Microsoft didn't win, but also very impressed with some startups like Inflection," he said, referring to the company co-founded by Mustafa Suleyman, a former DeepMind leader.

Gates said it will take more time for AI assistants to be widely used, while companies continue to integrate generative AI like ChatGPT into their products. According to him, the emergence and rise of generative AI technology is a game changer, which can have a significant impact on the human workforce. "We need to make sure they don't get dementia like the average person," he added.

Earlier, during the I/O event on May 10, Google also demonstrated how Google Search will change when integrating super AI . With the Converse feature, instead of listing a series of result links like the current tool, the new search chatbot will aggregate information, such as reviews of a new car, trip planning, pet care ... through chat mode.

Microsoft names three leading AI organizations in the world
Brad Smith, President of Microsoft, thinks that there are three leading AI units competing with each other, including one from China.

"The first is OpenAI , which is working with Microsoft , the second is Google, and the third is the Beijing Institute of Artificial Intelligence," Smith told Nikkei Asia over the weekend.

Microsoft President, Brad Smith. Photo: Reuters

OpenAI is the startup behind the hit super AI ChatGPT and the text-to-image tool Dall-E . Microsoft is investing billions of dollars in OpenAI and applying this technology to its range of products such as the Edge browser, the Bing search service.

Meanwhile, Google has always been a leading name in the field of artificial intelligence. In fact, the T in ChatGPT's name is Transformer - a deep learning architecture developed by Google since 2017. The company also internally developed a number of AI chatbots but did not release it widely because of concerns that it would be difficult to control misleading content. . However, after ChatGPT caused a fever, Google was put in a passive position and had to launch Bard even though this chatbot was hastily tested .

Beijing Artificial Intelligence Academy is also a famous name in the field of AI training and research. In 2021, this unit introduces Hoa Tri Bang, the first virtual student to enter Tsinghua University's computer and technology department.

According to Brad Smith, the race for artificial intelligence is fierce, and the gap between companies is "always measured in months, not years".

Generating AI, the technology behind chatbots like ChatGPT, is capable of generating text and images on a near-human level of sophistication. This technology has excited users over the past time thanks to its potential for applications in fields from business and the arts to education and healthcare. However, it also raises concerns when it comes to helping spread misinformation, piracy, invasion of privacy, and leaks of sensitive information.

However, Smith believes that it should not be out of fear to restrain AI. Instead, people should use and improve existing products. "Like other technologies, AI can be a tool but also a weapon," he said, referring to cyberattacks as well as the dark side of the Internet.

He said Microsoft is using AI to identify new attacks in real time. He is also confident that Microsoft is excelling in the field of artificial intelligence application in this security issue.