Stating that no government in the world is ready for the changes that artificial intelligence will bring to society, Bill Gates drew attention to the risks ahead.
Microsoft co-founder and billionaire Gates had an optimistic attitude about artificial intelligence until recently.
However, Gates changed his attitude; It warned of threats to employment, concerns of attacks and the danger of dependence on AI companions.
"I don't think any government has prepared as thoroughly as they should on this issue," Gates said in an interview with the Reuters agency. he said.
Adding that technology has the potential to help the world's poorest if managed correctly and provided equal access, Gates' foundation announced that it plans to spend at least $1 billion to expand access to artificial intelligence in the next two years.
Gates stated that he shared his concerns with world leaders, including US President Donald Trump and his team, and that he aims to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping later in the year.
"Governments are far behind on this issue," Gates said. he said.
Despite his concerns, Gates and his foundation hope AI will narrow the gap between rich and poor rather than widen it.
The $1 billion budget is part of the foundation's $9 billion annual overall spending plan; It will be transferred to partners operating in the fields of education, health and agriculture.
The resource also aims to support building the data foundations on which AI relies, such as ensuring that large language models work in every spoken language.
Pointing to a wide range of areas, from supporting frontline healthcare workers to the discovery of new drugs and vaccines, Gates said, "It is very difficult to describe the size of the potential for the healthcare industry." made his assessment.
Emphasizing that governments should act together to prevent problems, Gates likened the arrival of artificial intelligence to a disaster movie:
"There are a lot of movies where aliens come and the US, China and everyone else magically come together to solve the problem. Artificial intelligence is also kind of like alien intelligence. We better act in our lives now and act like those movies."
Gates testified in Congress in June about his relationship with prostitution convict Jeffrey Epstein.
Gates, who has not been charged with any crime, has repeatedly expressed regret over his contact with Epstein, whom he hoped would donate to global health causes.
Epstein, on the other hand, attempted to blackmail Gates over his extramarital affairs.
Despite the review, which triggered an external audit of his foundation and found no payments to Epstein or involvement in criminal activity, Gates maintained that these ties did not cause him or the foundation serious reputational damage.
"I don't see a decline in terms of access to government leaders or journalists' willingness to interview me," Gates said. he said, adding that his desire to leverage the foundation's expertise to reduce child mortality and end malaria has not diminished "one bit."
