Microsoft co-founder and philanthropist Bill Gates is warning that artificial intelligence could create greater risks than benefits if governments and the technology industry do not act quickly to address its potential harms.
Gates, who for years has expressed optimism about AI’s ability to improve health care, education and other areas, said his view has shifted as the technology has advanced faster than he expected.
In a new essay published Wednesday, Gates said he has become concerned about AI’s impact on jobs, cybersecurity, children’s well-being and public safety. He told The Washington Post that he is now “scared” of what could go wrong if the technology continues advancing without stronger safeguards.
“I’m surprised to feel this way,” Gates said. “I’ve never seen a problem that innovation can’t solve.”
Gates Calls for Greater Government Involvement
Gates said one of his biggest concerns is that the AI industry cannot adequately regulate itself.
He is calling for the U.S. government to take a leading role in developing policies to address AI-related risks, including threats to national security, employment and children.
“My basic view is nobody’s shown up,” Gates said, per The Post, describing his message as a call for bipartisan action.
His proposals include broader national and international frameworks involving elected officials, experts and members of the public. He also suggested establishing certain occupations as “Human Reserved,” meaning they would remain designated for human workers even as AI becomes capable of performing more tasks.
Gates has also raised the possibility of new taxes related to AI as a way to address job displacement.
Concerns About Jobs and Security
Gates said AI’s ability to perform workplace tasks has advanced significantly over the past year, particularly in areas such as software coding.
He is also increasingly concerned about AI being used for cyberattacks. Recent developments in AI-enabled hacking have exceeded what he expected, he said, describing some of the advances as “mind-blowing.”
Beyond cybersecurity, Gates identified potential threats involving biological weapons and fraud as other areas requiring attention.
He also warned that AI could affect children’s development by interfering with learning and human relationships.
Gates Still Sees Major Benefits
Despite his concerns, Gates has not abandoned his belief that AI could have enormous benefits.
He said the technology could improve health care, government services and educational outcomes. In developing countries where the Gates Foundation works, he said, AI is already helping farmers and others.
His concern is increasingly focused on the gap between those potential benefits and the risks that could emerge as the technology advances.
“AI can improve life for people at every income level,” Gates wrote in his essay. “But it won’t do that automatically.”
Gates said he previously tended to focus on the benefits AI could deliver decades from now. He now believes more attention must be devoted to preventing immediate harms and managing the disruption that could accompany rapid technological change.
“The good stuff is really there, no exaggeration,” Gates said in the interview, The Post reported. “The name of the game here is, can we have a small amount of the bad with the large amounts of the good?”
A Shift From Longstanding Optimism
Gates has spent years promoting AI’s potential to accelerate scientific discoveries, improve productivity and help address problems such as disease and climate change.
His latest warning represents a notable change in emphasis rather than a rejection of the technology itself.
He said he has discussed his concerns and ideas with AI industry executives, although he acknowledged that his proposals are not yet developed enough to have gained their endorsement.
Gates also said he expects to devote more of his time to addressing AI’s risks, potentially leaving less time for his philanthropic work.
The technology’s rapid development has placed Gates among a growing number of prominent figures in the technology industry calling for greater attention to AI safety and oversight.
Provided by Dallas Express
