As AI continues to develop and becomes more sophisticated, it has left many pondering the potential future use of the technology.
Now, one of the men at the forefront of this new age of AI, Microsoft Founder Bill Gates, has predicted that AI will go on to treat the sick and teach future generations.
Speaking on a recent episode of ‘The Tonight Show’, he told host Jimmy Fallon: “The era we’re just starting is that intelligence is rare, you know, a great doctor or a great teacher.
“With AI, over the next decade, that will become free, commonplace – great medical advice, great tutoring. And it’s kind of profound because [AI] solves all these specific problems like we don’t have enough doctors or mental health professionals but it brings with it so much change.”
Prompted by the response, Fallon then asked, “Will we need humans?”, which was when Gates admitted, “not for most things”.
Gates, who was on the show to promote his new memoir, went on to compare the evolution of AI to that of computing – which was initially expensive and unobtainable for many but is now “basically free”.
The same can now be said for AI-powered technology which is almost inescapable as it creeps into more and more of people’s everyday lives.
“There will be some things we reserve for ourselves. But in terms of making things and moving things and growing food, over time those will be basically solved problems,” explained Gates.
Despite the fear that this may bring for some, he reassured viewers that the changing times will “drive innovation forward”.
Dubbed by some as the grandfather of computing, Gates is well aware of the potential dangers of AI.
In 2023, he signed an open letter, alongside other prominent signatories such as OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and Google DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis, that claimed AI is a societal-scale risk on the levels of pandemics and nuclear war.
The issue has been further thrust into the limelight in recent weeks with the return of Donald Trump to the White House.
In one of his first moves in office, the new US president, who is vocally pro-AI, revoked Joe Biden’s AI Safety Bill – removing the ‘guardrails’ on AI and signalling a free reign for its development.
Although positive for economic growth, there are real fears over the detrimental effect of AI technology falling into the wrong hands.
Prior to his departure from office, Joe Biden strengthened a ruling that restricts the export of chips from the US to countries that pose a risk to national security.
Most notably, omitted from a list of 18 key allies exempt from the restrictions was China – home to DeepSeek AI, the company that sent shockwaves through Silicon Valley with claims that it developed its models for just $6m, a fraction of the price of its European counterparts.
In a recent episode of iGaming Daily, Cristian Barbosa, Founder of InsightPlay.AI, reflected on the dangers of what he describes as “the most disruptive technology since the invention of the internet”.
“There are two ways you can use AI,” he explained. “The good way is improving people’s lives but the bad is using it for bad purposes which is mainly control of populations, decisions and democracies.
“It’s a very complicated time in terms of global politics and what I’m seeing is that the gloves are off, this is going to be a fight. This has the potential to change the world and they know that.”
