Bill Gates warns AI could be 'powerful enough' to cause a billion deaths
Bill Gates has warned that artificial intelligence could become powerful enough to cause a billion deaths, calling for urgent attention to the technology's risks.
Microsoft co-founder and billionaire philanthropist Bill Gates has warned that artificial intelligence could become powerful enough to cause a billion deaths, underscoring the existential risks posed by advanced AI systems.
Gates made the remarks during an interview aired on 27 September 2026 in Washington, according to a preliminary script released to broadcasters. The comments were part of a televised segment in which he discussed the potential dangers of the technology he has long championed.
The warning from one of the world's most prominent technology figures adds to a growing global debate over how to govern AI as its capabilities expand rapidly. Gates has previously spoken about both the promise and the perils of artificial intelligence, but his latest remarks place the risk in stark terms.
His intervention comes as governments, researchers and technology companies grapple with questions of AI safety, regulation and the long-term consequences of increasingly capable systems. The full interview segment was distributed to media outlets with restrictions on its use.