Bill Gates Predicts AI's Impact on Jobs: Only Three Professions Safe, Says Microsoft Co-founder

Bill Gates just predicted the death of every job thanks to AI -- except for these three

If you've been looking at the tech world for any longer than a few seconds, you've surely seen the seemingly sudden insistence that AI be inserted into every aspect of technology going forward. AI has become both an overzealous marketing term and a reality that "artificial intelligence" is everywhere now and many are concerned that AI is going to be pushed to take people's jobs. They may be right, according to Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates. Recently, interviews from Gates have come back to the fore as the billionaire made several predictions about how work might look in the future. A month ago, Gates went on the The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon and said that AI would replace humans for most things. "There will be some things we reserve for ourselves. But in terms of making things and moving things and growing food, over time those will be basically solved problems," Gates told Fallon. Iterating on that concept, Gates has indicated that at least three jobs will need human hands over AI. Despite reports and claims from a certain class of technologist (it's CEOs) that coding was going to become the domain of AI, Gates apparently believes that humans are essential to coding. In a different interview, he said that coders would need to understand the underlying layers of AI to determine whether it was working properly or acting "crazy stupid." "It's kind of like saying, should you learn to multiply, just because computers are really good at it," Gates told Axios. Gates added that he believes that human coders are essential to identifying and correcting errors, refining algorithms, and helping improve AI development. Apparently, Bill Gates argues that while we could use AI to diagnose diseases and analyze DNA, it's "biologists" that will still be necessary for biological research and scientific discovery. It's not clear why he singles out biologists specifically when it seems that entire line of thinking could be extrapolated to all scientific endeavors that require creativity in research and discovery. Lastly, apparently, energy experts are third field exempt from an AI takeover because the billionaire has claimed the field is too complex to be fully automated. As for the rest of us? "Should we, you know, just work like 2 or 3 days a week?" Gates asked Fallon while saying that things like expert medical advice or educational resources will be cheap and available thanks to AI. What we'll be doing during those "two or three days a week" is up for debate, but there is a sector of Silicon Valley that basically worships AI, and has been since at least 2017, so maybe we'll ended up as acolytes in the church of Godbot.

Three professions are safe from AI, according to Bill Gates

TL;DR: Concerns about job displacement due to AI are rising, with Bill Gates noting that while AI may replace many roles, human oversight in coding, biology, and energy expertise remains crucial. Concerns about job displacement continue to mount, as OpenAI, Anthropic, and the broader market continue to roll out new models seemingly on the daily. Bill Gates has been relatively vocal about AI's potential to replace humans in most markets and professions. However, according to the Microsoft co-founder, there's a few exceptions. Credit: @BillGates Coding is widely considered one of the first professions on the chopping block due to AI. Major tech leaders, including NVIDIA's Jensen Huang, OpenAI's Sam Altman, and Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff, have each been insistent that programming will cease to exist when AI reaches a particular stage. However, Gates takes a different stance, explaining that human oversight is essential for identifying and correcting errors, refining algorithms, and helping to improve AI development. "It's kind of like saying, should you learn to multiply, just because computers are really good at it," Gates told Axios. He also explains that human biologists will also hold a pivotal role in the realm of biological research and scientific discovery. While artificial intelligence can be utilized to assist with disease diagnosis and DNA analysis, he argues that it lacks the creativity for scientific discoveries. Finally, energy expertise is the last area Gates claims is immune from automation. Highlighting, that the field has too much inherent complexity to be fully automated. Gates has highlighted that fields like medical expertise and educational resources will become cheap and readily available due to AI, explaining that the technology would soon replace humans for "most things". The push towards agentic AI - fully autonomous AI models - along with AGI (artificial intelligence) is a key touchpoint around this. While it's uncertain what markets will look like when AI reaches those stages, all we can do is speculate.

Bill Gates predicts only three jobs will survive the AI takeover. Here is why

AI is revolutionizing industries with potential job displacement, warns Bill Gates, though coders, energy experts, and biologists will remain essential for now. These professions, crucial for AI development, energy strategy, and scientific research, require skills AI can't yet replicate. Gates advises workers to adapt, anticipating AI's evolving impact on the job market.The rise of artificial intelligence is no longer a futuristic fantasy -- it's happening now, and it's reshaping industries at an unprecedented pace. While some see AI as a revolutionary tool, others fear the impending doom of mass job displacement. And according to tech billionaire Bill Gates, those fears might not be entirely unfounded. Gates has warned that AI will render many jobs obsolete in the coming years, automating roles across multiple industries. But amid the uncertainty, he has identified three professions that will likely survive the AI revolution -- at least for now. Ironically, the people building AI systems are the ones most likely to keep their jobs. While AI has made significant strides in generating code, it still lacks the precision and problem-solving skills needed to create complex software. Gates believes human programmers will remain essential for debugging, refining, and advancing AI itself. Simply put, AI needs people to build and manage AI -- making coders a rare breed of workers whose skills will only become more valuable. The energy sector is too vast and intricate for AI to manage alone. Whether dealing with oil, nuclear power, or renewables, industry experts are required to navigate regulatory landscapes, strategize sustainable solutions, and handle the unpredictable nature of global energy demands. Gates argues that while AI can assist in analysis and efficiency, human expertise is irreplaceable in decision-making and crisis management. For now, energy professionals remain indispensable. Biologists, particularly in medical research and scientific discovery, rely on creativity, intuition, and critical thinking -- qualities AI still struggles to replicate. While AI can analyze massive datasets and aid in diagnosing diseases, it lacks the ability to formulate groundbreaking hypotheses or make intuitive leaps in research. Gates predicts that biologists will continue to play a vital role in advancing medicine and understanding life's complexities, with AI serving as a powerful tool rather than a replacement. Gates acknowledges that his predictions may not be foolproof, and AI's influence on the job market will likely evolve in ways we can't yet foresee. Just as the Industrial Revolution and the internet transformed the workforce, AI will redefine how we work and what skills remain valuable. For now, those in coding, energy, and biology can breathe a little easier. But for the rest? It might be time to upskill, innovate, or -- as Gates suggests -- prepare for a future where AI is not just an assistant, but a competitor.

Worried that AI will take your job? Bill Gates reveals why these jobs will be safe in future

Bill Gates warns AI will make many jobs obsolete but highlights coding, energy management, and biology as fields relatively safe from automation. These professions require human problem-solving, creativity, and adaptability. Coders, energy experts, and biologists are seen as crucial for future advancements, emphasizing that human expertise remains vital even in an AI-driven world.The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping industries at an unprecedented pace. While AI brings opportunities for efficiency and innovation, it also raises concerns about widespread job displacement. Many fear that automation will replace human workers across multiple sectors, fundamentally altering the global job market. Tech billionaire Bill Gates has weighed in on this debate, warning that AI will make many jobs obsolete in the coming years. However, he has identified three professions that, for now, remain relatively safe from AI-driven automation. These fields -- coding, energy management, and biology -- demand a unique combination of problem-solving, creativity, and adaptability that AI has yet to fully replicate. Ironically, the professionals responsible for creating AI are among those whose jobs are least threatened by it. While AI has made strides in generating code and automating programming tasks, it still lacks the logical reasoning, precision, and problem-solving abilities needed to develop complex software. Gates believes human programmers will remain essential for debugging, refining, and improving AI systems. Tools like ChatGPT, Copilot, and AlphaCode assist in coding but require human oversight to ensure accuracy, optimize performance, and address unforeseen challenges. Additionally, AI-driven coding assistants rely on existing datasets, meaning they cannot independently innovate or create entirely new programming paradigms. As AI evolves, skilled coders will continue to play a vital role in shaping its future, ensuring systems are efficient, secure, and adaptable to emerging needs. The global energy sector is intricate, encompassing fossil fuels, nuclear power, and renewable sources. While AI can enhance efficiency, predict demand, and manage infrastructure, it cannot independently handle the regulatory, geopolitical, and market complexities that define the industry. Gates emphasizes that human expertise is essential for making strategic decisions, implementing sustainable solutions, and responding to crises like power outages or resource shortages. Unlike AI, energy professionals can critically assess changing conditions and consider ethical and environmental factors when making decisions. Moreover, the shift toward clean energy requires policy-making, engineering advancements, and interdisciplinary collaboration -- areas where AI can assist but not replace human leadership. For the foreseeable future, energy experts will remain indispensable in managing and innovating global power systems. In biology, particularly in medical research and scientific discovery, human intuition, creativity, and critical thinking are irreplaceable. While AI excels at processing vast amounts of data and identifying patterns, it lacks the ability to make groundbreaking discoveries or challenge conventional knowledge. Gates notes that AI can assist in diagnosing diseases, analyzing genetic sequences, and even supporting drug discovery. However, scientific exploration often requires researchers to think beyond existing data, take intuitive leaps, and pursue novel ideas -- something AI cannot do on its own. Medical advancements, for instance, stem from years of trial and error, ethical considerations, and a deep understanding of human biology. While AI is a valuable tool in the field, it serves as an assistant rather than a replacement for researchers pushing the boundaries of scientific knowledge. Gates acknowledges that AI will continue to reshape the job market, and no profession is entirely immune to technological disruption. However, history has shown that technological advancements -- from the Industrial Revolution to the rise of the internet -- tend to transform jobs rather than eliminate them outright. While professionals in coding, energy management, and biology may have a level of job security today, others will need to adapt, upskill, or transition into roles that complement AI. The demand for human expertise in problem-solving, ethical decision-making, and creative thinking will remain critical, even as AI takes on a greater role in the workforce.

Bill Gates says only 3 jobs will be safe from AI (and it's bad news for creatives)

Bill Gates has made an unsettling premonition about the future of AI - and his words don't hold much joy for most working in the creative sector. Gates hypothesised that in the future all but three job roles could be replaced by machines - and only one of those could be considered creative - and that's coding (spoiler: this is at odds with our view on the future of AI in graphic design). Although a utopian future would have AI taking over the boring, mundane tasks leaving humans free to pursue creativity, speaking across two different interviews Gates shares that he thinks AI has the ability to do "most things" and only coders, biologists and energy experts will remain safe from AI for now. All of these jobs need a human hand to control and advance the AI, he says. However, Gates also asserted that it would be up to humans to decide whether or not to exercise the power of AI across all the areas it is capable of taking over - leaving a glimmer of hope for the idea that humans may one day be free from the mundanity of tasks that can be automated but still find purpose (and work) in creativity. "There will be some things we reserve for ourselves. But in terms of making things and moving things and growing food, over time those will be basically solved problems," he says. In fact, he also says in another interview that he thinks humans could work "two or three days a week", which would leave time for non-work pursuits. Whether or not that would come with the same wage and living standards is, of course, yet to be seen. Given AI can't imagine new concepts that haven't been dreamed up by humans, I doubt it will ever fully take over human creativity. It may remain as a tool to help automate the time consuming parts of creative work or to help with concepting new ideas, however. It's also hard to imagine humans would ever accept AI as the main driver of creativity - that's certainly true so far (as our opinion on the recent AI Volvo advert proves). As Gates alludes to, it's really a case of 'could' vs 'should' in the case of creativity. For example. as a recent report said, graphic design is a creative career most immediately under threat by AI But it really depends on how humans view that job as to how true that really is. If you view graphic design as moving elements around on a page, or creating work that doesn't feel original or bold then perhaps that's true. But a human gives so much more than a computer when considering the applications of graphic design. Read more about how AI is currently impacting graphic design. AI can't form a relationship with a brand, or find new ways to help it connect with an audience. It also can't tell stories that have never been told before - all of which are key components of many areas of graphic design work. Sure, you might be able to whip up a logo based on text prompts, or create a leaflet by inputting information - but AI can't help with deeper strategy. That's where humans must centre themselves above the AI. If you need tools to help you create, see our list of the best laptops for graphic design.