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Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates has warned that artificial intelligence is powerful enough to trigger events that could cause the deaths of up to one billion people if it falls into the hands of people with malicious intentions.
In an excerpt from an interview with NBC’s Meet the Press, Gates said AI could become an extremely powerful tool for people seeking to cause large-scale harm.
He described the combination of advanced AI and malicious actors as potentially more powerful than any weapon previously available.
Gates also argued that self-regulation by technology companies would not be enough to address the risks.
He called for governments, law enforcement agencies and politicians to become directly involved in establishing safeguards and monitoring systems for AI.
His warning comes amid growing debate among technology leaders and AI researchers over the potential risks posed by increasingly powerful AI systems.
Gates has previously warned that malicious actors could use AI for cyberattacks, fraud, disinformation and attacks on critical infrastructure.
At the same time, Gates has stressed that AI could have major benefits if developed and deployed responsibly.
His foundation recently announced plans to spend at least $1 billion over the next two years on AI initiatives in healthcare, education and agriculture, with a focus on expanding access to the technology.