Microsoft co-founder and philanthropist Bill Gates has warned that artificial intelligence could potentially cause the de@ths of up to one billion people if powerful AI tools fall into the hands of malicious actors.
In an interview with NBC’s Meet the Press, Gates said AI developers should be required to implement safeguards and monitoring systems, arguing that voluntary industry self-regulation is not enough.
“You need law enforcement and the politicians to get into the discussion about what safeguards and monitoring look like,” Gates told the outlet. “And that has to be a required thing.”
Gates acknowledged additional regulation would create some costs for the AI industry but said it would not necessarily prevent companies from continuing to develop the technology.
“It will be a little bit of overhead for the industry — but not a dramatic slowing of what they’re doing,” he said.
Gates also issued a stark warning about the potential consequences if advanced AI tools fall into the hands of people with malicious intentions.
“There’s never been a weapon as powerful as the combination of people with ill intent using the latest AI tools,” Gates said.
He added AI could “certainly (be) powerful enough to drive events that, you know, cause a billion deaths.”
Gates was also asked about an AI “kill switch” that could shut down systems if they became too powerful. He said simply being able to turn off an AI system would not be enough to address the broader risks.
“It’s not enough to have a kill switch,” Gates said, noting current AI systems have not reached the point where they can independently take control of computers and prevent themselves from being shut down.
Gates’ comments follow an essay he published last month warning about the potential dangers posed by increasingly capable AI systems. He has generally maintained an optimistic outlook about technology and humanity but has also called for safeguards as AI development accelerates.
Other prominent technology figures, including OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and Tesla CEO Elon Musk, have also raised concerns about the risks associated with advanced AI and called for greater oversight in its development.
