Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates warned that artificial intelligence could drive events causing one billion deaths. His comments came as US officials debated how governments should regulate advanced AI systems. Gates made the remarks during an interview with NBC’s ‘Meet the Press.’ He said AI is developing differently from earlier technologies and could become far more capable than humans in the coming years.
“This is truly an evolutionary event,” Gates said, adding, “We have created an intelligent species that, in many respects, is already smarter than we are, and over the next several years at kind of an exponentially improving level will be insanely smarter than we are.” When asked whether AI could end humanity, Gates said, “AI is certainly powerful enough to drive events that, you know, cause a billion deaths.”
“There’s never been a weapon as powerful as the combination of people with ill intent using the latest AI tools,” he added.
Gates said governments lack the expertise to identify dangerous thresholds involving biological attacks, cyberattacks and other potential uses of AI. He also rejected the idea that voluntary safeguards from technology companies would be sufficient.
“No one thinks self-regulation is enough,” Gates said. He called for legislation that would require AI systems to have safeguards and monitoring capabilities. Gates said such requirements could increase costs for the industry without significantly slowing AI development.
“It’s completely irresponsible not to require every AI to have these safeguards and monitoring capabilities,” Gates said.
The discussion also moved toward possible cooperation between the US and China. Representative Ro Khanna called for a verifiable agreement to restrict AI systems that can independently improve themselves. Khanna said legislation backed by Senator Bernie Sanders and Representative Greg Casar would prohibit recursive self-improving AI until safeguards are established.
US Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz said Washington and Beijing had agreed to establish a superintelligence dialogue. The talks are expected to involve experts discussing safeguards linked to biological weapons research and nuclear systems. Attorney General Todd Blanche argued against regulations that could weaken US competitiveness. He said existing criminal and civil laws can already be used when AI is involved in crimes. The debate highlights the wider disagreement over how governments should balance AI development with safeguards for potentially dangerous systems.
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