Gates has quietly been directing much of Microsoft’s artificial intelligence plans from behind the scenes, the executives told Business Insider.He has advised CEO Satya Nadella on major decisions, reviewed products across multiple teams, recruited high-level hires, and nurtured the company’s crucial partnership with OpenAI, which produced popular AI tools like Copilot.
“What you read is not what’s happening in reality,” one Microsoft executive told Business Insider. “Satya and the entire senior leadership team lean on Gates very significantly. His opinion is sought every time we make a major change,” he added.
Despite publicly distancing itself from Gates after the 2021 reports of his workplace misconduct, Microsoft has continued to rely heavily on the billionaire’s technical expertise and vision for AI, sources said. Nadella, in particular, has kept Gates as a key advisor, having asked him to dedicate 30% of his time to the role when he first became CEO in 2014.
“Gates’ driving force behind Microsoft’s AI push”
Gates has been integral to Microsoft’s AI efforts, including its 2022 revamp of the Bing search engine powered by OpenAI’s technology. As early as 2017, he shared an internal memo predicting “AI agents” would spark a computing revolution by anticipating users’ needs, which led to products like the Copilot assistant.
After a private dinner at Gates’ home in 2022, when OpenAI CEO Sam Altman debuted GPT-4’s ability to pass an AP Biology exam, Gates wrote another memo outlining how Microsoft should leverage the powerful AI model across its services. His vision is said to have kicked Microsoft’s AI integration into high gear.
“Gates’ words were treated as gospel, helping spark Microsoft’s push to take the lead in the AI arms race,” one executive stated.
Despite his official departure from Microsoft, Gates has maintained a close relationship with Altman and OpenAI. According to a source, the two are “good friends,” and OpenAI regularly seeks Gates’ counsel.
Lingering power and involvement
Beyond AI, Gates remains deeply involved across Microsoft. He meets regularly with top leaders like Office boss Charles Lamanna, scientist Jaime Teevan, and cybersecurity head Charlie Bell to review products and strategy.
Gates also plays a key role in hiring, including pushing for the recent addition of former Google executive Mustafa Suleyman to lead a new consumer AI division despite Microsoft’s struggles in that market.
“Bill G. thinks the major opportunity is consumers,” said an insider. “If you look at the new consumer-AI organisation, that looks like Bill’s influence on Satya.”
While Gates may no longer hold an official role, his continued behind-the-scenes power at Microsoft undercuts the company’s stated commitment to overhauling its workplace culture after the misconduct allegations against him.
As one former executive bluntly assessed, “Gates is very involved with product reviews and one-on-ones with executives.” Though meant to be de-prioritizing his role, the 67-year-old has solidified his status as the man behind the curtain shaping Microsoft’s direction and future.
Gates’ orchestration of OpenAI has helped Microsoft become one of the world’s most valuable public companies at over $3 trillion.