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[TECHNOLOGY] · United States · 5 sources

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Bill Gates warns AI could cause one billion deaths

Bill Gates has issued a stark warning regarding the existential risks posed by artificial intelligence. In an interview with NBC’s “Meet the Press,” the Microsoft co-founder stated that AI is powerful enough to cause events resulting in the deaths of one billion people and could potentially lead to the gradual extinction of humanity.

Gates emphasized that while the probability of such a catastrophe is difficult to quantify, the combination of advanced AI tools and individuals with malicious intent represents a uniquely powerful weapon. He described AI as a dual-use technology that could serve as either a great equalizer or a significant source of injustice, noting that current development trajectories suggest a high probability of negative outcomes.

To mitigate these risks, Gates called for immediate international collaboration between governments and political parties to establish strict control frameworks. He argued that the goal should not be to halt AI development, but to ensure the technology remains under human control and is used for societal benefits in sectors like health and the economy.

These warnings coincide with growing concerns in Silicon Valley. Former Anthropic and OpenAI employee Jacob Coxon has criticized the industry's race toward superintelligence, while another Anthropic employee estimated a greater than 10% chance of AI causing human extinction within the next decade.

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Anthropic · Bill Gates · Meet the Press · Microsoft · NBC · OpenAI

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