“The front that we’ll probably see most dramatically in the next year is cyberattacks,” Gates said in an interview with ABC News on Sunday.
Gates said the risk of artificial intelligence getting out of human control remained a longer-term concern. For now, he argued, malicious users can exploit existing systems by removing safeguards built to prevent harmful uses.
“The real danger right now is not the AI’s getting out of control,” he said. “We need to work on that, but that’s years away in terms of the big impact that might have.”
Read also : Bank of England warns AI debt could amplify financial risks
Gates warned that unrestricted access to the latest AI models could bring a wave of harmful surprises, particularly in cybersecurity. He also called for stronger restrictions to prevent the use of AI in cyberattacks and bioterrorism.
He rejected the idea that AI companies could be left to regulate themselves, pushing back against US President Donald Trump’s position that industry self-regulation could provide sufficient protection.
“The idea that for the most dangerous technology humans ever invented, that that’s the final word, that just the companies themselves are the only check that society has...it’s clear we’re not doing enough,” Gates said.
In an August post, Gates also warned that the world was poorly prepared for the disruption AI could cause, particularly to employment. His latest comments add to concerns among technology leaders about the risks posed by increasingly capable AI systems and the safeguards needed to control their use.
