Bill Gates says AI 'powerful enough' to cause 'a billion deaths'

Bill Gates, co-founder of Microsoft, warned on NBC's "Meet the Press" on September 27 that unchecked artificial intelligence (AI) could cause "a billion deaths." He argued for federal legislation to regulate AI development due to its potential dangers. During his interview, Gates emphasized that self-regulation by the industry is insufficient and called for government oversight to ensure safety measures are in place. Despite concerns from some quarters that regulations might hinder technological progress against competitors like China, Gates contended that safeguards would not significantly slow down innovation. He also noted the difficulty of getting global consensus on AI regulation, likening it to Cold War-era negotiations over nuclear weapons.