Bill Gates, the Microsoft CEO, has warned that artificial intelligence could put white collar employees out of jobs much faster than many governments expect. He warned that the time to prepare talent is running out. The statements were made at the World Economic Forum in Davos when Gates spoke to NDTV journalist Vishnu Som. The Microsoft co-founder said AI will change both white-collar and blue-collar work within the next few years.
The tech moghul said governments need to act quickly to handle the impact on workers and ensure fairness. “In the next four to five years, both office jobs and manual jobs will be affected,” he said. According to Gates, leaders need to focus on how people will adapt to these changes. He also emphasized on sharing the benefits of AI evenly.
The Microsoft CEO also acknowledged the benefits of AI, such as faster medical research and better education tools. On the other hand, he said that if AI-driven changes are not managed well, they could lead to job losses, unfair hiring patterns, and wider income gaps.
Gates' explained that so far, the impact of AI on jobs has been limited. However, AI tools are already helping software developers work faster. They are starting to replace lower-skill roles in areas like call centers and logistics. He warned that if these changes are ignored, wealth and opportunities could end up in the hands of a small group.
These concerns also appear in Gates’ latest annual letter, ‘The Year Ahead’, where he says AI is different from past technology shifts. According to him, AI is spreading faster, affecting more areas of life, and changing things at a speed never seen before.
Gates stressed that solving these issues will require strong policies and global cooperation. In a world facing rising political tensions, he pointed to the partnership between India and the United States as a stable and important relationship. He said India’s strong digital systems and fast use of AI give it an edge. Gates added that despite global uncertainty, the long-term logic of close cooperation between India and the US is likely to be strong.