Bill Gates warns world is unprepared for AI upheaval

Bill Gates warned Wednesday that the world is not prepared for the upheaval caused by artificial intelligence, saying the technology could destroy jobs, strengthen bad actors and damage human relationships.

In a nearly 6,000-word essay published on his blog, the Microsoft co-founder said the shift into the AI era could rank among the most turbulent periods in human history. He said no credible plan exists to manage the transition.

“AI will either be the greatest equalizer ever invented, or the worst source of injustice,” Gates wrote.

Gates said the first major risk is permanent job destruction. He argued that AI differs from earlier economic shifts because it can substitute for human thinking, and said law, medicine, customer service, software and manufacturing could be affected within roughly a decade. He said entry- and mid-level workers, including young people entering the labour market, are especially exposed.

He also said cyber attackers may gain ground faster than defenders can fix weaknesses, leaving hospitals, banks, water systems and power grids exposed.

Gates said children and human relationships face another risk from AI chatbots that never challenge or frustrate users. He wrote that such bots could become addictive and “rob us of the lessons we learn from connecting with other people.”

Gates acknowledged that he retains financial ties to the technology industry, saying investment profits will flow to his foundation, which plans to spend its remaining $200 billion over the next two decades.