Bill Gates Warns of AI Risks: 40% of Jobs Should Be Reserved for Humans

Bill Gates believes artificial intelligence could become either “the greatest tool for equality ever invented” or “the worst source of injustice.”

The Microsoft founder has voiced his concerns about the risks of AI through a series of interviews and an essay published on his website.

According to Gates, the new technology poses greater threats than industry leaders publicly acknowledge. He stressed that changes driven by artificial intelligence could lead humanity into one of “the most turbulent periods in human history,” while governments remain unprepared to deal with it.

Gates is not alone in raising such concerns. Executives at OpenAI and Anthropic have also urged world leaders to develop new policies aimed at limiting the risks associated with the development of this technology.

Regarding the impact on the labor market, Gates said artificial intelligence could ultimately lead to the disappearance of many jobs.

“In 1933, during the Great Depression, unemployment in the United States reached 25 percent. Artificial intelligence may not reach those levels, but its impact will not end with a single economic cycle,” he said.

To prevent the complete automation of certain professions, Gates urged governments to consider reserving 40 percent of jobs exclusively for humans.

In his essay, he explained the reasoning behind the proposal, saying: “I like the phrase ‘reserved for humans’ because it makes me think of nature reserves, places where buildings and roads could be built, but which we have decided to preserve because losing them would be too great a loss.”

In the face of the challenges posed by the new technology, Gates called for cooperation among authorities around the world, including China.