Bill Gates, co-founder of Microsoft, stated that no government is currently prepared for the societal changes driven by artificial intelligence. He highlighted significant risks regarding labor markets, potential security attacks, and the emergence of dependencies on AI companions.
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation plans to allocate at least $1 billion over the next two years to expand AI access. These funds will support partners in education, healthcare, and agriculture, specifically focusing on developing large language models that support all human languages.
Gates has discussed these concerns with US President Donald Trump and intends to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping by the end of the year. He emphasized that governments are lagging behind and must cooperate globally to manage AI risks, comparing the technology to an alien intelligence.
The foundation aims to use AI to bridge the gap between rich and poor populations rather than widening it. Gates noted that the potential for AI in healthcare is substantial, ranging from assisting medical staff to accelerating the development of new vaccines and drugs.
