Bill Gates’ AI warning says artificial intelligence is advancing faster than governments and society are preparing for its effects on jobs, cybersecurity and biological risks.
Gates outlined the concerns in a new memo released Wednesday, August 26, and in an interview with Axios.
He argued that AI could become either a major equalising technology or a significant source of inequality, depending on policy decisions made during the transition.
Gates told Axios that the current trajectory carried a high risk of producing an overall negative outcome.
His memo predicts disruption across law, customer service, medicine, software and manufacturing. Gates said AI differs from earlier technological changes because it can substitute for forms of human cognition.
He also highlighted risks involving cybersecurity, biology, human relationships and the ability to control advanced AI systems.
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Gates called for national institutions capable of coordinating policy across employment, education, taxation, health and national security.
He also proposed an international AI oversight body drawing on elements of nuclear inspection and international aviation systems.
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Among possible economic measures, Gates said governments should consider reserving some jobs for humans and taxing AI use or robot labour.
However, he acknowledged that global coordination would be difficult and said he did not expect governments to successfully slow AI development worldwide.
Gates also told Axios that leaders of major technology companies and AI laboratories privately share concerns about the technology’s risks.
