AI could be used to design bioterrorism weapons, warns Bill Gates

In an annual note, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates has warned that artificial intelligence could be used to design bioterrorism weapons if the technology is not properly governed.

Gates stated that an "even greater risk than a naturally caused pandemic is that a non-government group will use open source AI tools to design a bioterrorism weapon." He drew a parallel to his 2015 warning about pandemic preparedness, suggesting the world is similarly unprepared for this AI-related threat.

While Gates expressed long-term optimism about AI's potential to solve major problems in health, climate, and education, his outlook included what he called "footnotes." He identified two primary challenges for the next decade: malicious use by bad actors and significant disruption to the job market. He argued that deliberate policies are needed to manage how AI is developed and deployed.

Gates also noted that AI is already beginning to impact employment, citing software development as an example, and predicted that this disruption will grow over the next five years. He called for 2026 to be a year of preparation for these changes, including developing policies to manage economic transitions. Despite these concerns, Gates concluded he remains optimistic due to humanity's capacity for foresight and care for others.