Bill Gates, the cofounder of Microsoft, spoke about a hypothetical fork in his career during a recent interview tied to his memoir. In Source Code: My Beginnings, he reflects on a world in which a breakthrough in microprocessor technology in the early 1970s had not opened doors for personal computing. Gates said that if such a hardware leap had not happened, he would have pursued a different professional path. Yet the moment arose and a new industry formed around small, affordable chips that empowered personal computers. He credits the industry’s early momentum with shaping both software and hardware ecosystems. Within those recollections, Gates notes that the path of a company focused on software, not hardware, defined a modern tech landscape in North America and beyond. He also implies that the ambitions of flagship firms like Intel have ripple effects on countless startups and research efforts across the United States and Canada. In his words, the history of personal computing is as much a story of hardware breakthroughs as it is of software ideas, and the synergy between those forces created a durable engine for growth. (AP interview)
Gates explains how the early evolution of microprocessors, alongside the idea of software, set in motion the birth of a company originally called Micro-Soft, later shortened to Microsoft. The collision of hardware pushes and software dreams helped computer makers in shops, schools, and homes across North America. Gates and his partner Paul Allen saw a window to write code that unlocked the potential of compact machines, and their software focus complemented Intel’s drive to shrink processing power. The early cooperation between silicon and software produced an ecosystem that took root in Canada and the United States, creating a software‑first mindset that shaped later products, platforms, and platforms’ expansion. The story Gates shares underscores how the software idea grew into a global industry as computing evolved from simple calculators to networked systems, and how Intel’s chips served as a key enabling ingredient in those early days. (AP)
Gates expresses warmth toward Intel’s legacy while speaking candidly about its recent strategic drift. He notes that Intel once led the transition from personal computers to mobile devices, but the company missed the critical shift around smartphones nearly two decades ago. While Microsoft broadened its horizons with cloud services and cross‑platform software, Intel faced obstacles aligning design and manufacturing with a fast changing market. Gates also points to leadership changes as a factor shaping the company’s path. He did not doubt the importance of strong guidance, and he acknowledged Pat Gelsinger’s decisive stance to reposition Intel for the AI era by reforming both architecture and manufacturing. In North American markets, including Canada and the United States, the ability of a vendor to innovate quickly in design and production often determines whether it can scale. Gates says he hopes Intel can recover, yet he recognizes the road ahead is challenging. (AP)
Gates notes that Intel has trailed in the AI accelerator race, a field led by Nvidia and Qualcomm that defines the next generation of processing for AI workloads. He argues that the company fell behind not only in chip design but also in the production methods needed to mass produce cutting edge AI hardware. He praises Pat Gelsinger for taking a bold course to overhaul both the design philosophy and the manufacturing pipeline, a move Gates says could reposition Intel for growth in North America and beyond. The stance comes as other players push forward with specialized chips that run large language models, machine learning tasks, and data center compute at scale. Gates expresses cautious optimism that Intel can reestablish its technical standing with disciplined execution and transparent collaboration with customers, but he acknowledges the effort will require time and steady leadership. (AP)
Earlier discussions touch on publicly reported concerns about processor security across the industry. In the broader ecosystem, chips from multiple vendors have faced advisories about potential vulnerabilities and the need for firmware and software updates to protect systems against unauthorized access. Gates does not single out a single company but emphasizes that strong security practices are essential as computing power moves into AI, cloud, and edge environments. The emphasis on ongoing protection is especially relevant for the United States and Canada, where enterprise networks, government systems, and consumer devices depend on dependable hardware and software. In that context, the industry continues to invest in hardware reliability, secure boot processes, and rapid response to new threats. (AP)