Microsoft founder and American philanthropist Bill Gates fears that artificial intelligence (AI) technology could do more harm than good, especially in the areas of child welfare, safety, and employment. He wrote about this in his new essay on August 26.
Gates warns that AI will impact national security, employment, education, taxation, energy, elections, air and water quality, healthcare, the financial system, law enforcement, and transportation.
"I am particularly concerned about the situation of young people who will enter the labor market with fewer entry-level jobs. <...> The biggest changes for workers will occur when AI provides almost error-free performance. At that point, it will be able to function independently, without human involvement, and companies will have every economic incentive to allow it to do so," Gates noted.
According to the businessman, it is necessary to think now about how to reduce job losses due to AI. He added that "waiting until people are already out of work or underemployed will be too late." Gates emphasized that AI capabilities are beginning to be used for cyberattacks.
"The smartest cybersecurity experts I know are afraid of what will happen in the next few years because attackers are gaining new powerful capabilities faster than defenders can fix all vulnerabilities," the billionaire clarified.
The Microsoft founder also predicts that although AI will lead to "life-saving breakthroughs" in drug and vaccine development, it will also "make it easier to create new deadly diseases."
According to Gates, the positive aspects of AI are difficult to separate from the dangerous ones, which is a "global problem." Furthermore, in his essay, the businessman claims that AI technology could slow down children's development and replace human relationships.
"We are just beginning to understand the danger that the internet, especially social media, can pose to the development of young people. We are seeing compulsive use, sleep disorders, cyberbullying, and exposure to harmful content. AI could exacerbate many of these risks," Gates added.
He also expressed confidence that AI will negatively affect education. This technology will lead to many people learning less.
