AI: Bill Gates fears a scenario that could cause a billion deaths

When asked about the possibility of AI posing a threat to humanity, the Microsoft co-founder stated that this technology is powerful enough to trigger events that could result in a billion deaths. He did not present this figure as a prediction, but rather as the scale of an extreme scenario made possible by the combination of advanced tools and malevolent actors.

Bill Gates also dismissed the notion that companies could independently regulate their systems. According to interview excerpts reported by Axios, he advocates for policymakers and law enforcement agencies to establish oversight and security obligations. He believes that these requirements would add costs to the sector without necessarily stifling innovation.

This warning extends a concern already expressed by the billionaire regarding biological risks. In a note published on August 14, he explained that the same tools capable of accelerating the development of drugs and vaccines could also facilitate the creation of a deadly pathogen.

Gates’ remarks come as the governance of AI increasingly occupies a prominent place in international discussions. Two days earlier, Pope Leo XIV had called for the preservation of human dignity in the face of automated systems. The full interview with Bill Gates is set to air on Sunday, September 27, on NBC.