Microsoft founder Bill Gates has expressed concern that the development of artificial intelligence could lead to widespread job losses.
In an essay published on his personal blog, he proposed reserving certain professions for humans to prevent them from being replaced by AI, Caliber.Az reports.
“You can’t tell a 55-year-old who has worked in construction their whole career that they need to go work at an elder care facility and expect them to find it fulfilling,” Gates noted.
The entrepreneur called for discussion of key questions, including who should decide which professions should remain human-only, how companies can be regulated to prevent them from abusing automation, and what will happen to international trade if countries adopt different rules governing the use of AI.
Among Gates’ proposals is introducing a tax on the use of artificial intelligence. He stressed that the current tax system incentivises companies to replace people with machines: wages are taxed, while purchasing a robot can be deducted as a business expense.
The essay also highlights other AI-related risks, including fraud, new forms of biological weapons, delays in children’s learning and deterioration of human relationships.
Gates called for involving not only governments in the discussion but also workers from various sectors, students, community and religious leaders, and parents.
By Bakhtiyar Abbasov
