In a stark assessment of the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates warned that the technology represents an “evolutionary event” that will reshape society more profoundly than the personal computer or the internet. Speaking with CNN, Gates outlined the immediate threats posed by AI, the critical need for federal regulation, and the unprecedented impact it will have on the global workforce.

Here is a breakdown of the key insights from Gates’s interview.

The Immediate Threat: Cyberattacks and Stripped Safeguards

While long-term existential fears often dominate AI discourse, Gates pinpointed the most imminent danger: bad actors leveraging AI in the immediate future. Over the next year, he expects a surge in severe cyberattacks.

The core issue lies in the ability of malicious users to strip away built-in safety rails from open-source or leaked AI models. “When you have bad people, no safeguards, and then the latest models, that’s where over the next year… we are going to have a lot of negative surprises,” Gates cautioned. He also reiterated concerns that AI could drastically lower the barrier to entry for bioterrorism, making the development of biological weapons dangerously accessible.

The End of Tech Self-Governance

Gates pushed back against the notion that the tech industry should be left to police itself, pointing out a dangerous imbalance: tech leaders are highly aware of the risks, but policymakers and politicians currently lack the sophistication to manage them.

Comparing AI to other highly impactful industries, Gates called for the creation of a dedicated regulatory agency. “We have significant regulatory capability to try and keep people safe [with planes, cars, and medicine],” he explained, referencing organizations like the FAA and FDA. “This is more dangerous than any of those… I think over the next year we’ll move beyond self-governance. The idea that for the most dangerous technology humans ever invented, that the companies themselves are the only check that society has… it’s clear we’re not doing enough.”

The Future of Labor and “Human-Only” Jobs

Addressing the economic fallout of AI, Gates acknowledged that the technology is advancing so rapidly that the incentive to replace human labor will be immense. He suggested that society will soon be forced into difficult political and economic conversations regarding job preservation.

To combat unprecedented job losses across virtually all sectors, Gates proposed two controversial but potentially necessary interventions:

1. Taxing AI: Implementing a tax on AI or robot usage to offset the economic displacement of human workers.
2. Reserving Roles: Politically mandating that certain occupations—particularly in sensitive fields like healthcare and education—be strictly reserved for human beings.

Bridging the Political Gap

Despite comparing advanced AI to “aliens created in a lab,” Gates rejected absolute doomerism, expressing optimism that a middle ground of sensible regulation exists. He noted that he has been in contact with several politicians and hopes to soon discuss these urgent regulatory frameworks with top political leaders in Washington to ensure the technology is steered toward its massive potential benefits, rather than its catastrophic risks.