This is Bill Gates’ prediction about AI and humans: Within 10 years, people unnecessary “for most things”

Bill Gates says artificial intelligence (AI) will ultimately render humans unnecessary “for most things” - and predicts that this will happen very soon.

The Microsoft co-founder, who this year released a new memoir, Source Code, predicts that this “scary” future awaits us within the next 10 years.

“It’s completely new territory”

In a recent appearance on NBC’s The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, the 69-year-old said: “The era that we’re just starting is that intelligence is rare - you know, a great doctor, a great teacher - and with AI, over the next decade, that will become free. Commonplace. Great medical advice, great tutoring…

“And it’s kind of profound, because it solves all these specific problems, like: We don’t have enough doctors or, you know, mental-health professionals.

“But it brings with it so much change. You know, what will jobs be like? Should we just work like two or three days a week? So I love the way it’ll drive innovation forward, but I think it’s a little bit unknown. Will we be able to shape it?

“And so, legitimately, people are like, ‘Wow, this is a bit scary.’ It’s completely new territory.”

“We won’t want to watch computers play baseball”

Asked by Fallon whether we “will still need humans”, Gates responded: “Not for most things.

“We’ll decide. You know, like baseball: We won’t want to watch computers play baseball. So there’ll be some things that we reserve for ourselves.

“But in terms of making things and moving things and growing food, over time, those will be basically solved problems.”

In another recent interview, Gates expanded on AI’s potential impact on the medical sector.

“It’s happening very quickly”

In a sit-down with Harvard University professor Arthur Brooks, the billionaire spoke about how AI can bring its ability to process huge amounts of information to bear on areas such as diagnostics.

Gates, who famously dropped out of Harvard to co-found Microsoft in 1975, reiterated that such advances in AI are “profound and even a little bit scary”, acknowledging: “It’s happening very quickly, and there is no upper bound.”

He continued: “The machine will probably be superior to humans - because the breadth of knowledge that you need to make some of these [diagnostic] decisions really goes beyond individual human cognition.”

Get your game on! Whether you’re into NFL touchdowns, NBA buzzer-beaters, world-class soccer goals, or MLB home runs, our app has it all.

Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more – plus, stay updated on the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.