Bill Gates warns AI could kill 1 billion people, says kill switch insufficient

Bill Gates warned that AI's "kill switch" is insufficient and that the technology could cause 1 billion deaths, urging stronger internal safeguards and monitoring over emergency cutoffs. Speaking on NBC's "Meet the Press," Gates argued that insight into AI behavior is critical, citing threats like AI-driven terrorism and cyberattacks. He dismissed concerns that regulation would handicap U.S. innovation, saying Washington should mandate tracking of models, and noted AI governance may be harder than Cold War nuclear treaty talks. Gates' comments align with industry warnings from Anthropic and OpenAI leaders, and follow a U.S.-China summit establishing a working dialogue on AI risks. He also addressed his past ties to Jeffrey Epstein, calling the association regrettable.