Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates has shared his evolving perspectives on Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) and its profound impact on the future of employment, suggesting that rapid AI advancements could lead to significantly shorter work weeks. In recent interviews, including one with CNN's Fareed Zakaria, Gates acknowledged growing concerns about job displacement but expressed optimism about new opportunities. He emphasized that AI is improving at a rate that continues to surprise even him, prompting a re-evaluation of traditional work structures.
Gates drew parallels between the current AI revolution and the agricultural revolution of the early 20th century, which saw widespread job shifts but ultimately led to the creation of new job categories and improved societal well-being. "As we had [with] agricultural productivity in 1900, people were like ‘Hey, what are people going to do?’ In fact, a lot of new things, a lot of new job categories were created and we’re way better off than when everybody was doing farm work,” Gates stated, adding, “This will be like that.” He believes AI will simplify tasks, such as assisting doctors with paperwork, making professional lives easier.
While distinguishing between current AI and AGI, Gates noted that AGI could potentially replace roles like telesales or tele-support due to its ability to perform these tasks more cheaply and accurately than humans. He also addressed the impact on entry-level white-collar jobs, such as those for paralegals or accountants, suggesting that college graduates might face a tougher job market in these traditional fields. The tech billionaire highlighted that AI's ability to substitute labor or human creativity is a profound change affecting larger classes of labor.
Despite these shifts, Gates identified specific professions that he believes will remain indispensable in an AI-dominated future: coders who understand the underlying layers of AI, biologists crucial for scientific discovery and hypothesis formulation, and energy experts due to the complexity of the field. He advises workers to adapt and embrace AI tools, noting that the ability to use these tools is both fun and empowering.
Looking ahead, Gates envisions a future where AI's efficiency could lead to a two or three-day work week, allowing individuals more leisure time and a redefinition of life's purpose beyond just jobs. "If you zoom out, the purpose of life is not just to do jobs," he remarked. He is also actively working with Microsoft and OpenAI to ensure AI's benefits extend to low-income countries, particularly in health, education, and agriculture sectors.
The rapid pace of AI development, however, poses a challenge for societal adjustment. Gates questioned whether the advancements are happening "so fast that you don’t have time to adjust to it.” He underscored the need for society to prepare for these transformative changes, ensuring a smooth transition into an AI-powered future where intelligence becomes more accessible and commonplace.