Gates warns Congress: AI self-regulation is not enough

Bill Gates told Washington lawmakers that AI companies cannot rely on self-regulation alone, warning that humanity risks losing control as systems act independently. He urged direct government involvement in setting safety and monitoring requirements. Gates acknowledged regulation would burden AI firms but argued it would not halt innovation. He cited risks including cybercrime, fraud, biological attacks, and major labor market disruption from AI replacing white-collar and physical jobs. He proposed taxing AI systems or robots like payroll taxes and reserving certain jobs for humans. His concerns reflect growing industry agreement, with leaders like Sam Altman and Elon Musk also backing stronger oversight.