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WASHINGTON, September 26, 2026: Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates has warned that artificial intelligence is powerful enough to enable events that could cause a billion deaths.
Gates made the remarks in an interview with NBC News’ Meet the Press. The programme released excerpts of the interview ahead of its full broadcast.
“AI is certainly powerful enough to drive events that, you know, cause a billion deaths,” Gates said.
He added that the combination of advanced AI tools and people with malicious intent could create risks unlike those posed by previous technologies.
Gates said voluntary industry rules would not be enough to manage the risks created by increasingly powerful AI systems.
“No one thinks self-regulation is enough,” he said.
The Microsoft co-founder called on US lawmakers, law enforcement agencies and political leaders to take part in discussions over AI safeguards and monitoring.
He said such oversight should become a requirement for companies developing advanced AI systems.
Gates acknowledged that additional rules would create some costs for the industry. However, he said regulation would not necessarily result in a major slowdown in AI development.
Gates also highlighted the possibility that malicious actors could use AI to cause large-scale harm.
His comments come amid growing concerns about the use of AI in cyberattacks, the development of dangerous biological agents and attacks against critical infrastructure.
In an earlier essay, Gates warned that increasingly capable AI could lower the barriers for bad actors seeking to carry out cyberattacks or other harmful activities.
He has also argued that governments are struggling to keep pace with the rapid development of AI systems.
Importantly, Gates did not say that AI will cause a billion deaths. His warning focused on the technology’s potential to enable catastrophic events if it is misused.
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Gates’ comments come as governments and technology companies debate how to regulate increasingly powerful AI systems.
AI companies have faced pressure to introduce stronger safety measures as their systems become more capable.
The debate has also intensified in Washington, where lawmakers are considering how much responsibility should remain with technology companies and how much should be imposed through legislation.
Gates has argued that government monitoring and enforcement should form part of the safeguards surrounding advanced AI.
The comments reflect a broader debate over how governments can manage AI risks without unnecessarily restricting technological development.
Gates’ warning follows recent discussions among leading AI executives and researchers about the potential risks of advanced systems.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei have both spoken publicly about AI safety and the need to manage risks as the technology develops.
Researchers and policymakers have also raised concerns about AI-assisted cyberattacks, biological threats and other forms of misuse.
At the same time, technology companies and governments continue to promote AI for applications in healthcare, education, business and scientific research.
The debate now centres on how to balance those potential benefits with safeguards against misuse as AI capabilities continue to expand.
[…] Bill Gates Warns AI Could Enable Billion-Death Events […]