In an interview with Reuters, Bill Gates, co-founder of Microsoft, warned that no country is ready for the societal consequences that artificial intelligence may bring. Gates said, “I don't think any government is nearly as committed on this issue as it should be.”
The 70-year-old entrepreneur previously published an essay outlining AI risks and criticized tech companies — including Microsoft, which he co-founded — for moving too recklessly in AI development. The interview came shortly after Donald Trump on Monday dismissed claims about the dangers of artificial intelligence as a “hoax.”
Gates said he recently spoke with Donald Trump and that his team is now working to arrange a conversation with Xi Jinping, the President of China. He framed these discussions as part of efforts to get governments more engaged in addressing AI’s societal impacts.
At the same time, Gates highlighted the potential benefits of AI. He said it is “hard to overstate” how much AI could positively affect medicine, including helping to develop new drugs and vaccines.
Corporate responses
Tech companies have already begun taking steps: on Monday, Microsoft published a draft code of conduct intended to place more ethical and controlled limits on AI development and use.
The Jeffrey Epstein matter
The interview also touched on Gates’s past connection to Jeffrey Epstein. Gates testified in June in relation to the Epstein case and said Epstein attempted to blackmail him over extramarital relationships. Gates stated that the matter has not affected the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation’s work, that inbound requests did not decline, and that he had not seen or committed any illegal actions.
Why it matters
Gates’s views carry weight because of his prominence in the tech industry and philanthropy. His warning — that governments are insufficiently prepared and that companies may be moving too quickly — underscores that AI’s rapid deployment brings both risks and substantial potential benefits, particularly for healthcare.
IMAGE CREDIT: AFP
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