Bill Gates Calls for an International Organization for AI

In an essay of about 6,000 words, Bill Gates warns that the world is not prepared for the era of AI. He calls on states to create national steering bodies and an international organization dedicated to this issue, to act without delay, and proposes taxing AI tokens and robots while reserving certain jobs for humans. The former Microsoft chief states that he would likely support a credible plan aimed at slowing down advancements in AI.

Gates Wants an International Organization and National Bodies, Right Now

Bill Gates believes that current institutions are not equipped for a task he describes as monumental: governing AI. He emphasizes that AI impacts taxation, employment, health, national security, and education, and that traditional structures do not grasp the entirety of the problem. He therefore recommends that each country establish bodies capable of setting priorities across ministries and systematically examining each risk associated with AI.

On a multilateral level, he calls for the creation of an international organization dedicated to managing cross-border risks of AI. Without specifying these risks or the exact form of the body, he asserts that it should be different from anything that currently exists, potentially drawing inspiration from international agreements on nuclear issues, aviation, or the ozone layer. He acknowledges that cooperation between the United States and China would be necessary, without detailing the mechanism, and urges countries to act swiftly and begin building this organization immediately.

Employment: Taxes on Tokens and Robots, and Jobs "Reserved for Humans"

Bill Gates expresses deep concern for employment, anticipating lasting unemployment and social upheaval. He predicts the permanent disappearance of many positions and believes that both white-collar and blue-collar workers are at risk of being replaced by AI systems.

He proposes concrete levers: taxing AI tokens and robots to discourage their substitution for workers and to strengthen social safety nets, and establishing a scope of tasks explicitly "reserved for humans." He calls on policymakers to act without delay, before rising unemployment, local suffering, and erosion of public trust occur.

His Commitments: Political Advocacy and New Directions to Detail

Bill Gates promises to use his time and influence to place AI and equity at the heart of public debate. He commits to addressing the topic during his visits to Washington, DC, and in his discussions with global leaders. He also describes his past connection with Jeffrey Epstein as a "huge mistake" and hopes that it will not harm his work in global health and AI.

He announces that he will soon return with more detailed proposals, particularly to ensure that the benefits of AI outweigh its negative effects, along with clarifications on the use of AI by the Gates Foundation.

An Alarmist Framing: Unprepared World, Unprecedented Transition, Possible Slowdown

His text, approximately 6,000 words long and titled "The Turbulent Era of AI is Here. The Choices We Make Now are Critical," asserts that the world is not prepared for what is coming and is not preparing for it. Gates sees in AI a potential for significant reduction of inequalities as well as a risk of major injustice, placing the transition among the most turbulent in history.

He considers analogies with PCs misleading, as they downplay the magnitude of the shock, and reminds that current flaws in models are quickly corrected. Assessing the period as unprecedented, he states that he would likely support a credible plan to slow down global advancements in AI. After a first essay published in 2023, he explains that he has recently revisited his thoughts on AI, while reaffirming that it remains possible to ensure that good prevails over evil.