Bill Gates’ comments at the AI Forward 2023 event suggest that he sees advanced artificial intelligence (AI) agents as a disruptive force in various sectors, including search engines, productivity tools, and online shopping sites. He believes that these AI agents will fundamentally change the way people search for information and make online purchases. Gates expressed his desire for Microsoft to be a leading player in this technological race, but he also acknowledged the possibility of a startup taking the lead.

During the event, Gates specifically mentioned his interest in Inflection AI, a company co-founded by Reid Hoffman. Inflection AI aims to redefine the interaction between humans and computers by developing AI-powered computer assistants capable of understanding and executing tasks based on voice or text commands. Gates highlighted the significance of creating a personal AI agent, considering it a major breakthrough that could revolutionize how people interact with technology and rely on AI-powered assistance for various tasks.

It’s important to note that the information provided reflects a hypothetical scenario and is not based on real events or statements from Bill Gates. As an AI language model, I can generate fictional dialogue and context based on the information available up until September 2021, but I cannot provide real-time updates or information on events that have occurred after that date.