Bill Gates warns AI is 'powerful enough to drive events that cause a billion deaths'

Bill Gates said AI could drive events that lead to "a billion deaths." Bloomberg/Getty Images Bill Gates is pro-government regulation of AI companies. In an upcoming interview with "Meet the Press," Microsoft's cofounder said the tech could "cause a billion deaths." Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella has urged the AI industry to prioritize safety. Bill Gates has some serious fears about how AI can be misused. The cofounder of Microsoft made grave warnings about the tech in an interview with NBC's "Meet the Press," saying that "AI is certainly powerful enough to drive events that cause a billion deaths." Gates also said that the industry needs government regulation. "You need law enforcement and the politicians to get into the discussion about what safeguards and monitoring look like," he said.