Pop guru Simon Cowell will put his TV ratings battle with will.i.am behind him when they join forces to find the next Bill Gates.
The X Factor creator and The Voice judge faced off when their talent shows went head-to-head earlier this year, but now they are to team up in a bid to discover the next technology genius, according to The Sun newspaper.
The TV giants discussed the project during a secret dinner in Los Angeles last month.
The Black Eyed Peas hitmaker hopes their talent quest could eventually provide jobs for thousands around the globe.
He tells the newspaper: 'We’re working on a project called X Factor for Tech - and it’s going to be out of this world.
Singing and performance create a couple of jobs. But this will create lots."
The show will trawl the world looking for young people who can demonstrate their technological wizardry.
The rapper adds: "It’s about getting in touch with youth and giving them a platform to express themselves - whether that’s in science or mathematics."
He said they are both happy to put their TV talent war behind them to tackle the new show.
Will.i.am adds: "Simon’s cool. We had a wicked dinner a couple of weeks ago and it was very nice."
Cowell recently admitted he has dumped plans for a show hunting a top global DJ with Will Smith’s wife Jada Pinkett Smith.
According to the paper, the plans were shelved after a row over top billing.
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WENN | By WENN Posted: 30/09/2012 12:33 Updated: 30/09/2012 12:33