Bill Gates warns ‘there is no plan’ for the ‘upheaval’ AI will cause

Bill Gates warned that transitioning to the era of artificial intelligence (AI) will be one of the most turbulent periods in human history, and we are not adequately preparing for this revolution. Gates argues that AI could be the greatest instrument for promoting equality ever invented or the worst machine for creating injustices, depending on how we use the technology.

The challenge is monumental, Gates says, and the world is not preparing for it. According to Gates, many people underestimate the scope of AI, and while benefits may come quickly, so do the problems. The Microsoft co-founder and ex-CEO predicts a period of social, political, and economic turbulence, warning that disadvantaged groups, like a bookkeeper replaced by software or a $20-per-hour worker losing their job to a $10 robot, will suffer the most.

Gates claims that industry executives reveal these concerns in private conversations but are reluctant to speak publicly. They say they're advancing at breakneck speed, hoping the positive side will outweigh the negative. Gates, 70, says he's been impressed only three times by technological advancements: in 1980 when he saw his first graphical interface, in 2022 when OpenAI founders showed him ChatGPT, and most recently when he observed Anthropic's Claude Code.

Gates is particularly impressed by the capabilities of Claude, with programming being the area he knows best. He believes that while technological advancements have historically created more jobs than they eliminated, AI poses a different challenge. Mass job losses could be inevitable if the problem isn't addressed quickly, as the rapid spread of the technology leaves little room for other sectors to absorb the displaced workers.

Gates says he issued the alert due to recent advancements showing AI is evolving faster than expected and amplifying risks, such as the creation of biological weapons or the possibility of machines escaping human control. He proposes creating a tax on AI use and prohibiting certain jobs from being replaced by machines. Gates also calls for international agreements to monitor and restrict risks of accidents and criminal use.

He expressed skepticism about the effectiveness of self-regulation mechanisms being discussed by the White House and Big Tech representatives and said he was "shocked" by the lack of urgency. "Self-regulation of the most dangerous tool ever invented? No thanks!"