Bill Gates Warns Governments 'Way Behind' on AI; Foundation Pledges $1B

Bill Gates warned in a Reuters interview that no government is fully prepared for the societal changes artificial intelligence will bring. The Microsoft co-founder and billionaire philanthropist cited risks including job displacement, the potential for AI to be used in attacks, and addiction to AI companion programs.

"I don't think any government is as deep on this as they should be," he said, adding that AI has enormous potential to help the world's poorest people if managed well and made widely available. He said governments are "way behind."

On Sept. 15, his foundation announced plans to invest at least $1 billion over the next two years to expand access to AI. The funding is part of the foundation's previously announced $9 billion annual spending plan and will go to partner organizations in education, health and agriculture. The foundation also plans to help build the data foundation for AI, such as ensuring large language models work across the world's languages.

Gates said he has discussed his concerns with leaders of several countries, including U.S. President Donald Trump and his team. He said he hopes AI can narrow inequality rather than widen it, and in health care, he said AI can support frontline health workers and aid drug and vaccine development.

He called on governments to cooperate to manage the risks, comparing AI's arrival to a disaster movie in which countries work together to solve a crisis. "It's a little bit like that alien intelligence," he said. "It's here, and we better work together."