Bill Gates Warns of AI: A 20-Year Period of Economic and Social Turmoil May Be Coming

Microsoft founder Bill Gates has warned that the transition to an AI-driven economy could create a 20-year period of turmoil that impacts employment and social structures.

In a statement on the Decoder podcast, Microsoft founder Bill Gates expressed that even if artificial intelligence technology is managed successfully, it could cause economic and social turmoil lasting about 20 years. Noting that there will be winners and losers in the process, Gates stated that this transition will reshape employment and open human social roles to debate.

The 70-year-old billionaire philanthropist, who noted that decisions regarding technological developments and the speed of progress could shorten or lengthen this period, stated that thanks to humanoid robots and artificial intelligence, physical tasks such as building houses, growing food, and performing surgeries could be done by machines. However, he expressed that some areas such as childcare, food preparation, art, and sports could be intentionally left to humans.

Pointing to the potential benefits in health and agriculture, Gates emphasized that governments and society are not sufficiently prepared for rapid development. Calling for stronger oversight and technical security measures against cyberattacks and biological threats, Gates stated that companies cannot be solely responsible for risk management.