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19 January 2026
AI Will Reshape Society as We Know It
In early 2026, Bill Gates released his annual letter outlining the most likely scenarios for the coming years. His latest “prophecy” sounds particularly alarming, focusing heavily on the rapid evolution of artificial intelligence. Gates emphasizes that AI represents an innovation with an unparalleled impact on humanity.
Of all the things humans have ever created, AI will change society the most,
– Gates wrote.
He believes that while AI will solve many of our current problems, it will simultaneously introduce challenges entirely different from any previous technological shifts.
Risks and Rewards: The Gates Outlook
The billionaire notes that intelligence has no upper limit, which brings both massive opportunities and grave risks. On the positive side, he sees AI accelerating progress in healthcare and education. Properly utilized systems could improve access to services and reduce global inequality. However, he highlights two primary dangers: the exploitation of AI by “bad actors” and the destabilization of the labor market.
Both are real risks that we need to do a better job managing,
– Gates emphasizes.
He argues that we must approach the development, governance, and deployment of this technology with extreme caution.
Bill Gates and AI: The Threat of Bioterrorism
One of the most chilling warnings in the letter involves the intersection of Bill Gates and AI safety. He points to the potential use of artificial intelligence for terrorist purposes.
In 2015, I gave a TED talk warning that the world was not ready for a pandemic,
– Gates recalled.
He noted that if we had prepared for COVID-19, human suffering would have been significantly lower.
Today, an even greater risk than a natural caused pandemic is that a non-government group will use open source AI tools to design a bioterrorism weapons.
Security experts agree with this assessment. They warn that AI models can help bad actors design pathogens, optimize genetic sequences, or bypass existing biosafety protocols. Consequently, Gates calls for global cooperation to prevent such catastrophic scenarios.
A Seismic Shift in the Job Market
Regarding employment, Gates warns that AI will deeply transform the labor market over the next few years. Software developers and tech sector employees will likely feel the first tremors.
We’re already starting to see the impact of AI on the job market, and I think this impact will grow over the next five years,
– Gates wrote.
He suggests that even if the transformation takes longer than expected, we should use 2026 to prepare. This includes defining policies that help distribute wealth and addressing the vital role jobs play in our social structure.
Why Market Forces Can’t Fix the Climate
The billionaire also addressed the climate crisis. He warns that unless we mitigate climate change, it will join poverty and infectious diseases as a leading cause of global suffering. To combat this, he proposes a “high global carbon tax.” Without it, market forces won’t sufficiently motivate companies to create emission-reducing technologies.
Only by replacing all emitting activities with cheaper alternatives will we stop the temperature increase,
– Gates noted.
Governments Must Take the Lead
In his conclusion, Gates makes it clear that world leaders must step up. He argues that government policy in wealthy nations remains critical. Without state-led innovation at scale, costs won’t drop, and we won’t achieve the necessary impact.
He also believes governments must play a central role in integrating AI into healthcare systems.
This is another case where the market alone won’t and can’t provide the solution,
– he added.
In the coming months, Bill Gates and AI policy will be at the forefront of his agenda as he meets with world leaders to promote best practices for the technology’s deployment.
Read this article in Polish: To może być nowa broń terrorystów. Bill Gates ostrzega przed AI
