Bill Gates warns unregulated AI could cause "billions of deaths"

Bill Gates warned in a NBC interview that unregulated artificial intelligence development could lead to "billions of deaths," urging governments and regulators to become involved in mandatory protections and monitoring. Gates stated that self-regulation by tech companies like OpenAI and Anthropic is insufficient, emphasizing that "forces of authority and politicians" must participate in discussions. He described the combination of malicious actors using advanced AI tools as potentially the most powerful weapon ever created. Gates outlined a two-phase AI development process, predicting a 20-year adaptation period before benefits emerge. He suggested AI and humanoid robots could eventually create an "era of abundance" in housing and healthcare, though protections must come first.