Bill Gates Tells Trump Not to Slow AI Innovation, Slams ‘Kill Switch’ Debate — Warns ‘A Billion Deaths’ Could Be Possible Without Safeguards

Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ:MSFT) co-founder Bill Gates voiced his apprehensions about the potential misuse of artificial intelligence (AI) and called for more stringent regulations. During an interview on NBC News’ Meet the Press, which aired on Sunday, Gates called the “kill switch” for AI a “weird thing” and said it is inadequate to prevent individuals from manipulating the technology for harmful intents. “We’re not yet at the point where they autonomously grab computers and can’t be shut down. So that discussion just sort of shows how non-technical various people are,” he said. The Microsoft co-founder also called for legislation mandating safeguards and monitoring of AI, stating that voluntary measures by AI companies are insufficient. He cautioned, “AI is certainly powerful enough to drive events that cause a billion deaths.” He emphasized the necessity for companies to closely supervise advanced AI models and maintain comprehensive records of their activities. Gates argued that such steps would help deter the misuse of AI systems for cyberattacks or bioterrorism. When asked about his message to President Donald Trump on AI, Gates replied that he would ask him not to slow AI innovation, but to establish oversight and monitoring standards for advanced AI models. He said Trump could help bring stakeholders together to determine what effective safeguards should look like. Read Also: AI Slowdown Push 'Unrealistic,' Says Palo Alto Networks CEO, AI Firms Trying to Seek Regulatory 'Sympathy' AI Leaders Warn of Rising Risks In August, Gates had warned about AI causing a rapid wave of job displacement and wealth concentration. In his essay, Gates warned that the shift to the AI era could be among history’s most turbulent periods, saying governments are not adequately prepared. He said AI could either promote greater equality or deepen wealth gaps, with its rapid adoption potentially transforming industries including law, healthcare, software, customer service and manufacturing within a decade. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella echoed similar concerns earlier this month, emphasizing the need for greater control and transparency over AI, including the ability to keep their proprietary knowledge and intellectual property from leaking while using AI outputs to fine-tune their own models. Meanwhile, Trump stated Sunday that he would meet Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei over dinner to discuss AI safety and development. Amodei has called for stronger safeguards as AI systems become more capable, while Trump has opposed slowing innovation, emphasizing the need to maintain the U.S. lead over China in AI. Trump said he believes the U.S. is about 18 months ahead of China and questioned why the country should give up that advantage. Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors. Read Also: NVDA CEO Jensen Huang Dismisses AI Slowdown Calls, Says Labs Don't Need New Rules to Ensure Safety: 'We're Not Going to Die in 2030' Photo courtesy: Shutterstock