Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates has warned that international cooperation on artificial intelligence could prove more difficult than the nuclear negotiations between the United States and Soviet Union during the Cold War.
Speaking to NBC’s Meet the Press, Gates said AI requires countries to recognize that “humanity is all in this together.” He argued that governments, lawmakers and law-enforcement agencies should work together to establish safeguards and monitoring systems while avoiding a dramatic slowdown in technological development.
Gates also called for legislation to regulate AI, saying voluntary self-regulation by technology companies would not be enough. He warned that AI is powerful enough to contribute to events resulting in massive loss of life if used maliciously.
His comments come amid growing concerns about AI-related cybersecurity incidents and the potential risks posed by increasingly capable AI systems. Technology leaders, including OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei, have also called for stronger safeguards and international cooperation.
Gates said the biggest challenge may be balancing technological competition with efforts to ensure AI is developed and used safely.
