Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates has delivered a serious warning, suggesting that without immediate action from governments and AI labs worldwide, artificial intelligence could lead to widespread job losses and societal regression.
In a lengthy essay published on Tuesday evening, Gates argued that even under the most optimistic circumstances, the shift into a new era of artificial intelligence will rank among the most volatile transitions in human history. He predicts that AI will soon overcome obstacles such as hallucinations and replace both white-collar and blue-collar positions at a cost lower than human labor.
Gates also cautioned that AI chatbots could become addictive and sycophantic, potentially dulling critical thinking abilities and harming social connections. This marks a notable shift in his perspective on generative AI, which has evolved dramatically in recent years.
Around 2019, during discussions with Microsoft executives, he questioned OpenAI's business model and the practical value of large language models. By 2023, his stance had softened; in an article that year, he expressed optimism about AI's broad benefits, including advancements in medical research. His latest commentary, however, carries a more concerned tone.
In the essay, Gates urges political leaders to pass legislation that would impose taxes on the volume of text processed by AI models, aiming to offset revenue losses and expand social safety nets for workers displaced by automation. He further recommends that both governments and private enterprises consider shielding certain roles from automation, particularly those where retraining human labor would be difficult in the future.
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