Billionaire philanthropist Bill Gates believes an international organization is necessary to manage the upcoming “turbulent” transition to artificial intelligence because, in his view, “there is no plan to ease the entry into the AI era.”
In a nearly 6,000-word essay published on his website, Gates called for an international and domestic framework to deal with AI. He said while countries will have their own established bodies, they “will still be exposed to risks that cross borders,” which is why a global body will need to be created.
Recommended Stories
“It will be unlike any other institution we have ever created, though it can follow the model of some existing systems,” Gates wrote. “There’s an inspections regime for nuclear weapons, regulations for international aviation, and agreements that protect the ozone layer. A new global organization for AI will need elements of all three and more.”
The Microsoft co-founder and Gates Foundation’s namesake argued that there will need to be increased cooperation between certain countries, such as the United States and China, if they want to get ahead of the curve on AI’s growing influence over the world.
“It is fair to wonder whether the world’s institutions are up to the task of designing and implementing this new architecture,” he said. “Government moves slowly when it moves at all, and polarization within and between countries makes it harder than ever to get things done. Some cooperation between the U.S. and China will be required.”
Throughout the essay, Gates warned that the rapidly advancing technology will bring about a “period of social, political, and economic upheaval” that will be unavoidable and impact many different areas.
The first big risk from AI, he said, will be mass job displacement. Companies that start incorporating AI into their everyday work will begin to rely less on human employees. Jobs in law, customer service, medicine, software, and manufacturing will be among the hardest hit by AI automation.
To address this issue, Gates proposed a possible “Human Reserved” plan to set aside some jobs best filled by humans.
Another risk associated with AI relates to the potentially devastating harm that can be inflicted if the technology is used to create bombs, bioweapons, or computer viruses, according to Gates. Among the infrastructure he deems most susceptible to AI-enabled attacks are hospitals, financial institutions, water systems, power grids, and government-benefit systems.
“Even criminals with very limited skills will be able to target victims at every scale: individuals, companies, and governments,” he said.
Lastly, the third AI-related risk is something young people are already facing: worsening mental health and social isolation. Gates asserted that AI companions will be highly damaging to children’s development and ultimately more addictive than social media.
“We’re seeing compulsive use, disrupted sleep, cyberbullying, and exposure to harmful content,” he wrote. “AI could magnify many of these risks by making them more persuasive and difficult to escape, and we should not wait another generation to start taking them seriously.
Toward the end of his essay, Gates noted he will raise the major problems that AI poses when he meets with federal lawmakers in Washington, D.C., and global leaders. He also teased future essays on AI.
Gates said he is working with Microsoft and other AI companies through the Gates Foundation to “try and ensure AI is deployed in ways that will truly benefit people around the world.”
MICROSOFT CUTS 4,800 JOBS AS IT NAVIGATES AI REVOLUTION
The billionaire maintained he still has ties to the tech industry. As a result, he could stand to benefit from his AI advocacy. However, Gates denied that it is his goal.
“Any profits generated by my investments, including those related to technology, will go to the Gates Foundation to tackle global inequity,” he said. “Of course, readers will have to decide for themselves whether this clouds my view.”
