Gates Warns AI Could Wipe Out Billions Without Stronger Safeguards

Bill Gates, co-founder of Microsoft, has sounded the alarm on the dangers of artificial intelligence (AI) in the wrong hands. He warned that malicious forces could use AI to trigger an event causing up to 1 billion deaths.

Gates made these remarks during an interview for Meet the Press, which is scheduled to air on September 27th. When asked if AI could wipe out all of humanity, he replied, 'AI is powerful enough to trigger an event that could cause 1 billion deaths.'

Gates emphasized that addressing the risks through AI companies' self-regulation alone would be insufficient. He called for direct intervention by the U.S. federal government in creating safeguards and oversight systems.

The debate on the pace of AI development has been intensifying in the United States, with some industry leaders pushing for stronger safety regulations. OpenAI proposed establishing international technical standards for frontier AI and AI systems that improve their own performance. A survey by Reuters and Ipsos found that 73% of U.S. adults believe AI companies are not taking sufficient measures to prevent potential catastrophes.

However, the administration of former President Donald Trump has pushed back against slowing AI development or establishing a new global regulatory framework. Michael Kratsios, director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), argued that AI development should not be halted or constrained by a new global governance regime simply because the technology is advancing rapidly.