Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates has warned that governments are not yet prepared for the social and economic changes expected from the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence. In an article of about 6,000 words, he said AI could eliminate large numbers of jobs within the next decade and deepen inequality if its development is poorly managed. He described the AI era as potentially one of the most disruptive periods in human history.

Gates said AI’s impact differs from earlier shifts from agricultural work to industrial and office employment because those transitions unfolded over generations. AI, he argued, could directly substitute human thinking. He identified law, healthcare, customer service, software and manufacturing as sectors likely to face major change, while reduced entry-level and mid-level opportunities could make it harder for young people to begin careers.

He also warned of risks from AI-enabled cyberattacks against hospitals, banks, water systems and power grids, and raised concerns about addictive chatbots affecting young people’s social development. Gates proposed considering taxes on AI and robots to fund retraining and social protection, while calling for international cooperation among major powers to establish a global AI governance framework.