Gates Says Rejecting AI May Require Amish-Style Choices

Bill Gates says people who want to avoid artificial intelligence may eventually need to live like the Amish. Speaking on The Verge's Decoder podcast, the Microsoft cofounder described a future where AI can handle a wide range of tasks, from cooking to medical research.

Gates said he expects AI to become powerful enough that individuals will have to decide which parts of their lives to keep human. He compared this to how Amish communities limit certain technologies to preserve religious beliefs, family relationships and community traditions.

One point Gates made concerns which tasks people choose to keep for themselves. He said some activities, such as raising children, cooking dinner, making art and playing sports, may stay meaningful because humans decide to do them rather than because they are efficient. A person might use AI for financial planning but keep personal time with their children human-controlled, for example.

Gates also addressed how AI could change work over the next two decades. He expects the technology to disrupt some jobs while creating opportunities for others. Companies that use AI well may raise productivity and lower costs, while workers in roles vulnerable to automation could face uncertainty. He did not say every job will disappear.

A third point involves where AI could help. Gates said the technology could support medical professionals by analyzing information, supporting diagnoses and helping researchers develop treatments. He also said AI could improve agricultural planning, reduce waste and help farmers manage resources.

Gates has previously described AI as an exceptionally dangerous technology and warned about catastrophic misuse. One concern involves powerful systems falling into the wrong hands. Another involves societies becoming too dependent on technology they do not fully understand or control.

The conversation comes as Microsoft has offered buyouts to tens of thousands of employees during its AI expansion, according to a report referenced by TMZ. That report does not establish that 60,000 employees received buyouts or that AI caused the offers.

Gates cofounded Microsoft. He has said AI could eventually perform tasks that currently require human expertise, but he has also said some tasks require physical dexterity, personal judgment, trust or human relationships that may be difficult to replace.