Bill Gates speaks at the annual Bloomberg Philanthropies Global Forum in Manhattan, New York City, U.S.
Source: msn
Bill Gates has warned that artificial intelligence could be misused by bad actors to create bioweapons, calling it one of the most serious risks emerging in the next decade. He shared these concerns in his Annual Letter for 2026, while still maintaining optimism about AI’s long-term benefits.
AI and bioterrorism threat
Gates said open-source AI tools could enable non-government groups to design biological weapons. He compared the situation to his 2015 warning that the world was unprepared for a pandemic, adding that ignoring early warnings once again could lead to even greater harm.
Disruption to jobs and labour markets
According to Gates, AI will dramatically reduce the amount of human labour needed to produce goods and services. Software development roles are already seeing early disruption, and other sectors such as warehouse operations and customer support could be affected soon as AI systems become more capable. He noted that societies may need to rethink how work is structured, including shorter work weeks or limiting AI use in certain areas.
AI progress will not plateau
While artificial general intelligence timelines continue to slip, Gates believes AI capabilities will keep advancing and eventually exceed human-level performance in many domains.
The positive side of AI
Despite the risks, Gates highlighted AI’s potential to transform healthcare. He said AI could accelerate medical innovation and expand access to quality healthcare globally, as long as reliability, oversight, and human control remain central.
Why this matters
Gates emphasized that the next decade will be critical. How governments and companies choose to develop, govern, and deploy AI will determine whether it becomes a force for global good or a major global threat.
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