Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates issued a stark warning about artificial intelligence Tuesday, arguing that the world is dangerously unprepared for the technology’s impact on jobs and economic inequality.
“Many jobs will disappear forever,” Gates, 70, wrote in an essay published on GatesNotes.com.
Gates said he sees little evidence that government leaders, experts or communities are adequately confronting the potential disruption. He warned there is currently no plan to help society enter the rapidly developing AI era.
The billionaire described artificial intelligence as technology that could become either history’s “greatest equalizer” or its “worst source of injustice.” Even under the best conditions, Gates predicted the transition would rank among the most turbulent periods in human history.
He questioned how AI could be used to create a fairer world without deepening the divide between wealthy and poor populations. Gates also raised concerns about protecting vulnerable people who could lose both their livelihoods and their sense of control over the future.
The remarks represent a shift from Gates’ position three years ago, when he reportedly described AI as “manageable.” He now believes the technology will leave the world with “far fewer” fewer” jobs.
“I am in a state of shock that I’m sort of the first one saying, ‘This is crazy. This is insane,’” Gates told Semafor. “I’m just deafened by the silence.”
Gates warned that the biggest workforce disruption will arrive when AI can deliver nearly error-free work without human oversight, giving companies a financial incentive to deploy it independently.
The essay is the first of several Gates plans to publish.
