Bill Gates, known for his optimism about artificial intelligence (AI), recently stated in a CNN interview with Fareed Zakaria that AI will significantly transform everyone’s life within the next five years. While acknowledging the widespread concerns about AI potentially affecting 40% of global jobs, as reported by the International Monetary Fund, Gates views this development through a historical lens of new technologies initially inciting fear, followed by the creation of new opportunities.
“As we had [with] agricultural productivity in 1900, people were like ‘Hey, what are people going to do?’ In fact, a lot of new things, a lot of new job categories were created and we’re way better off than when everybody was doing farm work,” Gates said. “This will be like that.”
Gates foresees AI making significant contributions, especially in streamlining tasks that professionals like doctors find burdensome, such as paperwork. He highlighted the ease of accessing AI technologies through existing devices like phones and PCs, connected via the internet, without the need for new hardware.
He specifically mentioned the advancements in OpenAI’s ChatGPT-4, praising its capabilities in reading, writing, and functioning akin to a white-collar worker. Gates sees immense potential in integrating this technology into sectors like education and healthcare. His continued stake in Microsoft, which has a multibillion-dollar partnership with OpenAI, underlines his investment in this vision.
In contrast, the IMF’s report offers a less optimistic perspective, suggesting that AI could exacerbate inequality without political intervention.
Separately, Gates discussed his philanthropic efforts. Despite being worth $140 billion and ranked as the fourth-richest person by Bloomberg’s Billionaires Index, Gates is on a mission to give away his fortune. He and his ex-wife, Melinda French Gates, have committed the majority of their wealth to their foundation and other charitable causes.
“The goal of the Gates Foundation is to make sure that the delay between benefitting people in poor countries versus getting to rich countries will make that very short,” Gates told Zakaria at Davos for the World Economic Forum. “After all, the shortages of doctors and teachers is way more acute in Africa then it is in the West.”
In 2022, Gates announced plans for his foundation to donate $9 billion annually by 2026. He, along with partners like Warren Buffett, has already funneled around $100 billion into the foundation. Gates estimates that at the current rate of donation, he will have given away all his wealth in approximately 20 years.
“I have more than enough money for my own consumption,” Gates responded to a question about his philanthropic activities. “I’m getting myself to go down the list, and I’ll be proud when I fall off altogether.”
Featured image: Credit: Gates Ventures
