New Delhi: Billionaire William Henry Gates, more commonly known as Bill Gates at 63, expresses concern that AI possesses capabilities beyond mere task completion and could potentially even threaten his own role. Gates discussed his apprehensions on the podcast ‘Unconfuse Me With Bill Gates’ alongside Sam Altman, the co-founder of OpenAI, covering various aspects of AI.
This apprehension is not new, as evidenced by warnings from the IMF chief predicting a loss of 60% of jobs to AI in advanced economies. While a UN study suggests that this scenario is not immediate, there is a noted vulnerability among women to AI displacement. The advent of OpenAI’s ChatGPT, for instance, has led to a significant loss of jobs, with AI contributing to a notable 136% increase in tech terminations in 2024, according to US firm Challenger Gray. Various reports and current career trends indicate a growing demand for AI and Machine Learning (ML) skills, reflecting a transformative shift in the job market.
Bill Gates humorously acknowledges the possibility of even his own job being at risk, highlighting a conversation with Altman in which they both expressed a degree of fear regarding AI. Gates specifically relates this to his mission to eradicate Malaria, envisioning a scenario where an AI could efficiently handle the task while he is left playing pickleball. Despite the significant advancements AI has brought to various fields, such as life sciences, including pharmacy, radiology, psychiatry, and pathology, caution is warranted. While the accelerated pace of research facilitated by AI is beneficial, there are potential risks involved. However, if even a billionaire’s role could be supplanted by AI, it indicates the magnitude of its disruptive potential.
