Bill Gates outlines two-phase AI future leading to an 'era of abundance'

Bill Gates said on NBC's "Meet the Press" that AI will develop in two phases, with the second phase combining AI and humanoid robots to create an "era of abundance." Gates described the current first phase as a roughly 20-year adjustment period where AI can address problems like high living costs and healthcare but may disrupt jobs and empower criminals without safeguards. He said phase two will enable AI and robots to build houses and grow food, though humanity will face new challenges like finding purpose. Gates has advocated for AI guardrails, warning the technology could cause a billion deaths if misused, while critics cite job losses and cybersecurity risks. White House technology director Michael Kratsios countered that developers who believe their AI is unsafe should simply stop it.