Bill Gates on the Dangers of AI
Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates discusses his evolving perspective on artificial intelligence, shifting from cautious optimism to urgent concern. He highlights potential risks including economic instability, cyberattacks, and the need for robust government regulation.
Why it matters
As a leading tech visionary, Gates's shift in tone signals a growing consensus among industry leaders that AI development requires more stringent oversight.
An interview with the Microsoft co-founder about artificial intelligence, his ideas for regulation, and Jeffrey Epstein
Patrick van Katwijk / Getty August 27, 2026, 7 AM ET Share Save Listen − 1.0 x + Seek 0:00 32:47 Subscribe here: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Overcast | Pocket Casts
Bill Gates has generally been an AI optimist. In 2023, the co-founder of Microsoft warned about the potential downsides of AI but in much the same way that a doctor might about a routine-surgery risk—real and serious but, as he put it then, “manageable.”
This week, Gates wrote a new memo , headlined: “The Turbulent AI Era Is Here. The Choices We Make Now Are Critical.” This was several shades darker, worrying about economic upheaval, social unrest, cyberattacks, bioterrorism—and most important, the failure of experts and governments to take these threats seriously enough.
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