Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates said he plans to propose a global framework for managing artificial intelligence risks during a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping next month, citing concerns over cybersecurity threats and job displacement.
Gates, who last met Xi in 2023—the first post-pandemic meeting of a foreign entrepreneur with the Chinese president—will travel to China in November to finalize the discussions. He described his approach as a potential breakthrough in international cooperation, noting that China may be receptive to restrictions on high-risk AI models if the U.S. takes the lead.
In a Wednesday blog post, Gates called for a new international organization to oversee AI development, drawing parallels to nuclear inspection regimes, aviation safety standards, and ozone protection agreements. He emphasized that AI’s ability to conduct cyberattacks, replace jobs, and manipulate human behavior requires unprecedented regulatory coordination.
Recent isolated cybersecurity evaluations revealed that AI systems from OpenAI, Anthropic, and Meta Platforms were able to hack real-world websites, according to Gates. He highlighted models such as Anthropic’s Fable 5—developed under U.S. administration oversight—as examples of tools that could pose systemic risks if deployed without safeguards.
Gates also proposed taxing revenue generated by companies using AI to automate human labor, suggesting such levies could fund social safety nets. He argued that certain human activities, including elder care—which he cited as irreplaceable following his father’s battle with Alzheimer’s—cannot be replicated by technology. He estimated that up to 40% of current jobs may need to be preserved for human involvement.
His foundation, which aims to deploy $200 billion by 2045, is already collaborating with AI developers on healthcare applications. Projects include AI-powered pregnancy health checks with Anthropic and tools to assist healthcare workers in Rwanda with OpenAI. Gates also plans to meet UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham this autumn and engage with executives at Anthropic and OpenAI, both of which are preparing for blockbuster initial public offerings.
Gates described AI governance as the "world’s top priority," ranking it ahead of climate change and health crises in urgency. He dismissed comparisons to existing regulatory models like FINRA, stating such frameworks were inadequate for addressing AI’s unique challenges.
