Bill Gates has warned that artificial intelligence (AI) will cause humanity to enter one of the most turbulent times in human history, causing jobs to disappear forever. These concerns are outlined in a comprehensive 6,000-word essay titled “The choices we make about AI are now critical”, published on Gates Notes. Gates states that unlike previous technological revolutions, the transition to AI will impact multiple industries over the course of the next decade.
“Jobs will disappear forever”
The essay further mentions that the jobs most impacted by AI are entry-level and mid-level. These positions support the livelihood of a large portion of the population. Therefore, young people entering the workforce now face significant challenges in securing employment. Since advanced AI models can now think, speak and reason, they can now effectively substitute human cognition.
White-collar roles such as sales, customer support, and software engineering are likely to become obsolete. Moreover, blue-collar jobs are also likely to be taken over by smart robots that can perform physical roles in construction, manufacturing, and hospitality. The biggest shift is likely to occur when AI models gain the capability of producing error-free work without human oversight. This will give corporations the incentive to reduce their workers to save costs and increase efficiency.
While employment opportunities may arise involving management of AI systems, these are likely to be insufficient to offset the net job losses.
Gates says the world has “no plan”
In the essay, Gates further mentions that the world has no plan to manage the impending crisis. He proposes a framework of human-reserved domains, such as the education and mental health sectors. These fields should be legally protected from automation.
Gates has also proposed the concept of a “token tax” on AI usage. Companies that are replacing human workers through automation should be taxed on the revenue generated. These funds should then be invested in social welfare programs for displaced workers. This will discourage corporations from laying off workers on a massive scale.
The Gates Foundation has also pledged $1 billion for AI technologies to be developed equitably.
