# Bill Gates Issues Stark AI Warning: 'There Is No Plan' for What Comes Next > Source: > Published: 2026-08-27 07:55:29+00:00 # Bill Gates Issues Stark AI Warning: 'There Is No Plan' for What Comes Next ## Gates sees great potential for AI in healthcare and energy but warns its rapid rise could lead to turbulent times Bill Gates helped build the computer age. Now he fears the next technological revolution could arrive before the world has worked out how to manage it. Artificial intelligence could transform jobs, public safety, and daily life at a speed few governments or communities are ready to handle, Gates warns. In a 5,784-word essay published on his personal website, the Microsoft co-founder and billionaire philanthropist said there is no plan to ease society into the AI era. He wrote that even under the best circumstances, the transition could become one of the most turbulent periods in human history. The [warning](https://www.ibtimes.co.uk/bill-gates-warns-ai-disruption-jobs-society-1816496) marks a more sober tone from Gates. In 2023, he described AI as a breakthrough comparable with the internet and the personal computer. He still believes the technology could bring major benefits to healthcare, agriculture, and energy. But his latest essay focuses more sharply on what could go wrong if the transition is badly managed. Gates argues that companies are moving rapidly towards a future shaped by AI while governments struggle to develop rules for the consequences. ## A Warning From Inside the Technology World Gates has spent decades at the centre of technological change, which makes his latest intervention significant. He told *The New York Times* that recent advances had exceeded his expectations. AI coding tools, he said, had become particularly striking in a field where he has deep experience. Gates argued that the technology industry is moving ahead because companies face powerful commercial incentives to adopt AI. Those incentives, he warned, may not always align with what is best for society. A representative for Gates Ventures told *The Wall Street Journal* that he decided to speak now because he believes little time remains to prepare for the transition. Gates said he would raise the issue with lawmakers in Washington before unemployment rises sharply, communities suffer, and public trust erodes. ## Jobs Could Disappear Faster Than People Expect Employment forms the largest part of Gates's warning. He argued that AI could affect white-collar and blue-collar jobs, with entry-level and mid-level positions among those most exposed. Law, customer service, software, and manufacturing could all undergo major changes within a decade. That, Gates argues, would make AI different from earlier technological transitions. Previous economic changes often unfolded over generations, allowing workers time to move into new industries. AI could spread across many parts of the economy over a much shorter period. Gates wrote that companies would have every economic incentive to rely on AI if the technology became capable of producing highly reliable work without human supervision. He warned that widespread job losses could create pressure far beyond the workplace. In his essay, Gates referred to the social damage experienced by some communities after factory closures and asked readers to imagine similar economic pressure affecting workers nationwide. ## A Tax on AI and Jobs Reserved for Humans Gates has proposed taxing AI tokens and bots. The idea is to reduce the financial incentive for companies to replace workers while also raising money to support people whose jobs disappear. The revenue could help fund retraining and social support. Gates also noted that governments could lose income tax revenue if fewer people remain in employment. He has also proposed reserving some roles for humans. Under his Human Reserved idea, societies could decide not to use AI in certain jobs. Some roles require human empathy and care, while workers in other professions may face serious difficulty finding new employment. Gates's argument raises a difficult question about the future of work. Even if AI can perform a job, society may decide that it should not replace the person doing it. ## The Threat to Truth, Safety, and Human Judgment Gates's concerns extend beyond employment. He warned that AI could increase cyberattacks against critical infrastructure, including power grids, hospitals, and banks. It could also make fraud and surveillance more widespread. He also raised concerns about bioterrorism. In his interview, Gates argued that AI systems capable of helping users create dangerous biological agents should face mandatory reviews. He questioned whether voluntary safeguards would be sufficient for technology that could be used to cause extreme harm. The risks, Gates argues, could also affect human relationships and thinking. He warned that [AI companions could become addictive, particularly for children](https://www.ibtimes.co.uk/bill-gates-warns-ai-could-stunt-our-kids-development-lead-many-jobs-disappearing-forever-1816442), while personalised deepfakes and misinformation could make it harder to distinguish truth from falsehood. At a time when machines can tailor information to individual users, he said, critical thinking could become one of the most important human skills. © Copyright IBTimes 2026. All rights reserved.