Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates has warned that artificial intelligence could be used to cause catastrophic harm and said governments should not leave AI safety entirely in the hands of technology companies.
In an interview with NBC News, Gates argued that lawmakers in Washington need to establish rules for how powerful AI systems are developed and monitored. He said companies should be required to put safeguards in place rather than relying only on voluntary commitments. Asked whether the US needs legislation on AI, Gates responded, “Absolutely.”
“You need law enforcement and the politicians to get into the discussion about what safeguards and monitoring look like,” he said. According to Gates, such requirements could add some extra work for AI companies without bringing development to a halt.
Gates warns of the scale of AI risks
Gates’ concern extends beyond the possibility of AI making mistakes or disrupting jobs. He pointed to the possibility of advanced AI being used by people deliberately seeking to cause harm.
“AI is certainly powerful enough to drive events that, you know, cause a billion deaths,” Gates said. He added that the combination of increasingly capable technology and people with harmful intentions could create a threat unlike previous weapons.
Gates did not say that a billion people are expected to die because of AI. His argument was that the technology could potentially enable an event on that scale, making safeguards and oversight important as AI capabilities increase. His comments come as several prominent figures in the AI industry debate whether the race to build more advanced systems needs additional safety measures.
Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei has called for regulation covering major frontier AI companies, arguing that government rules could apply to companies even when they do not voluntarily agree to slow down. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has separately called for international standards covering AI risk assessments, safeguards and human oversight.
Not all technology leaders support the same approach. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has reportedly argued that AI companies should deal with safety issues within their own organisations rather than relying on industry-wide coordination.
The US government is also yet to settle on a federal approach. House Speaker Mike Johnson has previously warned against rushing legislation without considering national security implications.
Individual states have already started taking action. California has created a board of experts to develop recommendations for strengthening AI safety laws, while Maryland and New York have announced their own initiatives for overseeing AI companies and related technology.
Microsoft President Brad Smith has also criticised the competitive race among AI companies, arguing that safety should take priority when companies are developing increasingly powerful systems.
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