‘Human Reserved’: Bill Gates says some jobs should be off-limits to AI

In a recent essay, Bill Gates proposes a new concept called "Human Reserved," suggesting that certain jobs should remain exclusively human despite the advancements of artificial intelligence. Gates argues that society must begin addressing crucial questions about AI's role in the workforce now, rather than waiting until AI can perform many tasks.

The idea is similar to designating land as a nature reserve, where humans preserve it not because machines are incapable of occupying it, but because humans value leaving it untouched.

Childcare and jury service are two examples Gates provides, both of which he believes might remain human-centered even if AI becomes capable of handling them. However, the concept becomes more complex when applied to existing professions where AI is already present. In fields like education and healthcare, AI can assist by creating personalized learning experiences or analyzing medical data, without replacing human interaction entirely.

Gates does not believe that retraining workers will suffice in the face of AI's potential to perform most physical and cognitive tasks. As AI systems and robots advance, there may not always be another viable job waiting for retrained workers. This issue is far more profound than simply learning to use AI tools like ChatGPT. Gates suggests that governments might need to intervene through measures like taxing AI tokens or robots, generating revenue to support those affected by automation.

Instead of solely judging AI's capabilities, Gates believes we should consider whether we want AI to perform certain tasks. This "Human Reserved" concept introduces a second test, challenging us to ask not just what AI can do, but whether we desire it to do certain jobs.