AI could cause 1 billion deaths, says Bill Gates

Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates has cautioned that artificial intelligence (AI) could lead to one billion deaths, sparking a heated debate in Washington over potential government regulations. Gates explained to NBC’s "Meet the Press" that AI is unlike previous technological advancements and could surpass human intelligence in the coming years. He described AI as an "evolutionary event," emphasizing that it will become exponentially smarter than humans, potentially leading to catastrophic consequences.

Gates stated that AI could drive events causing a billion deaths, noting that it is powerful enough to enable individuals with malicious intent to carry out such attacks. He called for legislation requiring safeguards and monitoring systems, arguing that voluntary self-regulation by companies is insufficient. However, some in Congress have differing views on the matter.

Rep. Ro Khanna, a California Democrat, advocated for a verifiable US-China agreement prohibiting AI systems capable of independently improving themselves. He proposed legislation backed by Senator Bernie Sanders and Rep. Greg Casar, calling for a ban on recursive self-improving AI until appropriate safeguards were established.

Khanna believed that the US should lead the way in creating a treaty that enforces and verifies a ban on recursive self-improving AI, ensuring human control over the technology. The US and China have agreed to establish a superintelligence dialogue following President Donald Trump’s summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping. This dialogue aims to discuss guardrails, including areas such as biological weapons research and nuclear systems, with experts from both nations.

However, Attorney General Todd Blanche cautioned against regulations that could weaken the US's competitiveness in the AI space. He emphasized that existing criminal and civil laws are sufficient to address crimes committed using AI, rather than imposing new regulations that could slow down innovation.