Bill Gates on Microsoft at 50, and what’s next for AI

“Intelligence is becoming free, and that’s even more profound than computing becoming free.” That’s one of the takeaways from Bill Gates in new excerpts from his recent GeekWire interview. Gates reflects on Microsoft’s 50th anniversary, draws parallels between the early days of the PC revolution and the current rise of AI, and explains where he sees the next big opportunities for AI innovation. Read more, and subscribe to the GeekWire Podcast in Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen. 

• Check out past installments in our Microsoft @ 50 series. 

• Join us March 20 in Seattle for our Microsoft @ 50 event, featuring former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer and other special guests. Learn more and register here.

Above: Bill Gates with a printout of the Altair BASIC source code from 1975, one of Microsoft’s earliest software artifacts. (Photo: Gates Notes / Ian Allen)

Former Convoy CEO Dan Lewis has a new gig, revealing today that he joined Microsoft in a chief product officer role. Lewis (above) spent eight years leading Convoy, a high-profile Seattle startup that was valued at nearly $4 billion before a surprising collapse. Lewis said a conversation with Satya Nadella convinced him to join the Redmond tech giant. Read more.

A ballot measure that would create a new tax on big business in Seattle is getting strong support, based on initial election results. Revenue from the tax would support a social housing developer. Amazon and Microsoft put $100,000 each toward an alternative funding mechanism. Read more.

Seattle real estate rivals Zillow Group and Redfin are teaming up on a new licensing deal for rental listings. Redfin is laying off 450 people as part of a restructuring related to the move. Read more.

Rethinking startup accelerators: Foundations, a Seattle-based startup community that launched last year, unveiled a new program designed to supercharge early stage companies without requiring founders to give up equity.

• A new accelerator program is launching in the Seattle area to help identify and support startups and technologies that address critical U.S. Department of Defense needs. Read more.

AI and recruiting: Seattle-based startup ConverzAI raised $16 million to grow its software that helps companies parse applications, conduct interviews, and onboard new employees with virtual recruiters. 

Chomp, a Seattle-area startup building “mechanical cows” that turn food waste into fuel and liquid fertilizer, has been acquired by Missouri-based Martin Energy.

Get your nominations in for the GeekWire Awards! Help us recognize the Pacific Northwest’s top entrepreneurs, innovators, and leaders. Submit nominations and join us April 30.

Hot Links:

• Amazon’s latest bricks-and-mortar experiment is a beauty and health products store in Milan, Italy. (CNBC)

• Adaptive Biotechnologies beat estimates for its fourth quarter revenue and earnings, though shares were down Wednesday. (Adaptive)

• For the love of scams: The Seattle Police Dept. is warning people to watch out for Valentine’s Day-related fraudsters who could break your heart and bank. (SPD Blotter)

• Amazon is testing the inclusion of select products from third-party brand websites outside of Amazon.com in its search results for the first time. (About Amazon) 

Thanks for subscribing to the GeekWire newsletter, and have a great day. — GeekWire editor Taylor Soper, taylor@geekwire.com; GeekWire co-founder Todd Bishop, todd@geekwire.com; and GeekWire reporter Kurt Schlosser, kurt@geekwire.com.