The shadow of Bill Gates still hangs over Microsoft. The co-founder significantly influences decisions related to the integration of AI technologies of the OpenAI startup.
Since his official departure from Microsoft’s executive functions and board of directors, Bill Gates has remained an influential figure behind the scenes.
According to internal sources cited in an article from Business Insider, Bill Gates was instrumental in forming the partnership between Microsoft and OpenAI. This partnership has seen Microsoft invest billions and integrate artificial intelligence technologies into its products, making the company a leader in this growing sector.
Bill Gates’ memo
An internal document, affectionately called “the memo” by Microsoft employees, reveals the extent of Bill Gates’ involvement.
This memo, sent after a meeting with Sam Altman of OpenAI and Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft, marked a decisive turning point. Bill Gates expressed the importance of integrating GPT-4 into Microsoft products, which was quickly followed by concrete actions, including Copilot.
Bill Gates has always had a vision for the future of technology. His regular meetings with Microsoft executives are not simple formalities, but strategic sessions where he shares his vision of artificial intelligence and its potential.
This situation nevertheless raises questions about the transparency of decisions within Microsoft and the way in which they are communicated to shareholders and the public.