Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates has warned that artificial intelligence is now powerful enough to cause a billion deaths if wielded by those with malicious intent. In an interview set to air on NBC’s *Meet the Press*, Gates stated, “AI is certainly powerful enough to drive events that… cause a billion deaths,” adding that there has “never been a weapon as powerful as the combination of people of ill intent using the latest AI tools.” Gates’s comments, reported by NBC News, Axios, Breitbart, and RT, mark a shift for the tech leader, who previously emphasized AI’s potential for positive change.
The warnings follow the release of a memo and essay in August outlining Gates’s concerns about AI safety threats, potential job losses, and risks to children. He specifically highlighted the speed at which AI is advancing in areas like writing software code and enabling cyberattacks, describing it as “mind-blowing.” Gates is now calling for government intervention to regulate AI development, arguing that tech companies cannot self-police effectively.
Breitbart News noted this represents a change in tone for Gates, who “transformed himself from a software tycoon into a leftist icon” and previously expressed optimism about AI’s ability to solve problems. RT reported Gates made similar warnings about pandemic preparedness in 2015, drawing criticism and conspiracy theories during the Covid-19 pandemic. Axios highlighted that Gates sees a future where AI could wipe out humanity. While some lawmakers are pushing for bipartisan AI guardrails, as reported by NBC News, the issue remains a point of debate among tech leaders and government officials.
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