Bill Gates Warns of AI's Rapid Progress and Its Impact on the Future of Work

Bill Gates says AI is moving at a speed that "surprises" even him -- and he says the experts can't tell if it'll replace humans in one year or ten

Job seekers are scrambling to figure out when AI will come for their jobs -- but even the experts can't agree on a timeline. Now, Bill Gates is sounding the alarm: It could all happen so fast, workers won't even have time to catch up. "The question is, has it come so fast that you don't have time to adjust to it?" Bill Gates just said in an interview with CNN. The Microsoft cofounder noted that AI is already capable of taking over administrative roles like telesales, but it's still falling short when it comes to more complex tasks -- and even he's dumbfounded by just how quickly it's closing the gap. "It's improving at a rate that surprises me," the tech pioneer, worth $122 billion, said in the interview, while pointing to its deep research capability as an example. "A few times a day, I take some complex question, and just for fun, I see AI does an awfully good job gathering all the materials, and summarizing what I need to know." In just a few years, the technology has gone from writing emails to generating functional code. That's why no one can pin down when exactly the tipping point will come, Gates added. "AI today can replace human work, the most complex coding tasks, [but] it's not able to do [it] yet. And people in the field disagree: is that within the next year or two, or is it more like ten years away?" Fellow business leaders have been candid that AI will be just as capable as, or even more advanced than, most human workers in the next few years. Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei predicted that up to 50% of entry-level white collar jobs could be replaced by AI within 5 years. Amazon CEO Andy Jassy also told employees that within the next few years, AI would reduce some corporate roles, like customer service representatives and software developers. And over at Meta, its CEO Mark Zuckerberg is already getting started on automating some of his employees' jobs -- the tech billionaire announced that the company is building an "AI engineer" to help with coding tasks. That shift isn't unique to just tech roles. IBM cut around 8,000 jobs this May in HR and other departments, as the tools take over routine administrative tasks. Instead, the company is hiring more engineers and salespeople, signaling a transition to more roles that require creativity and complex decision-making. As more companies pull back on hiring and training early job seekers, they are also shrinking the talent pool of future leaders. The jobs that have historically served as stepping stones for entry-level workers are under threat. With recent college grads struggling to land entry-level jobs, Gates weighed in on growing fears that AI is taking opportunities from young workers. He argued that rising productivity should free people's time to do more of the other things they enjoy -- from side hustles to vacations. "When you improve productivity, you can make more [jobs]," Gates said. "It means you can free up these people to have smaller class sizes or have longer vacations or help to do more, so it's not a bad thing." New research echoes that already, 4 in 10 say it has provided better work-life balance, reduced stress, and improved decision-making.

AI to replace jobs, but you'll get 'longer' vacations: Bill Gates - The Economic Times

Bill Gates warned Generation Z that simply knowing how to use AI tools won't guarantee job security. He called AI "fun and empowering" but said digital skills alone won't protect against job losses. However, Gates reiterated his advice to young people to "be curious, read and use the latest tools".Microsoft cofounder Bill Gates has delivered a sobering message to Generation Z (Gen Z). It seems that even AI literacy is no longer enough to retain jobs. In a recent CNN interview, Gates cautioned that merely knowing how to use AI tools won't be enough to ensure long-term employment stability. While he described the use of AI as "fun and empowering", Gates warned that this proficiency, despite the widespread emphasis on digital literacy, is not a safeguard against a pink slip. However, he reiterated that his advice to young people remains unchanged: "be curious, read and use the latest tools". AI to impact both white- and blue-collar jobs Gates acknowledged that while AI can automate simpler coding tasks, more complex work remains out of its reach -- for now. He predicted that even blue-collar roles won't be immune for long. "When robotic arms start to be decent, which they're not today, it will start to affect even larger classes of labour [sic]," he noted. Longer vacations? Gates framed the rise of AI as a potential positive, despite its challenging effects. He argued that higher productivity could mean more benefits to workers. "If you get more productive, that's good. It means you can free up these people... to have longer vacations or, you know, to help do more. So it's not a bad thing," he said. Amid concerns about job displacement, especially in white-collar roles, there's fresh interest among Gen Z in blue-collar jobs. A recent survey by résumé company Zety, which polled 1,000 Gen Z workers, found that over half of the respondents are considering skilled trades such as construction, plumbing, or electrical work. This marks a significant departure from previous generations, for whom a university degree was seen as the key to middle-class security.

Bill Gates Warns AI Progress 'Surprises' Even Him -- Unclear When It Will Replace Human Work - Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT), NVIDIA (NASDAQ:NVDA)

Microsoft Corp. MSFT co-founder Bill Gates warned that artificial intelligence is advancing at a pace that "surprises" even him, creating uncertainty about when AI might replace human workers across industries. What Happened: "It's improving at a rate that surprises me," Gates said. The tech pioneer highlighted AI's growing research capabilities, noting he regularly tests complex questions on AI systems that deliver comprehensive summaries. Gates emphasized the unpredictable nature of AI's trajectory. "AI today can replace human work, the most complex coding tasks, it's not able to do yet. And people in the field disagree: is that within the next year or two, or is it more like ten years away?" See Also: Marc Benioff Says AI Now Handles Up To 50% Of Work At Salesforce -- Could An AI Agent Eventually Take Over His Job? The technology has rapidly evolved from basic email composition to generating functional code. Gates noted AI already handles administrative roles like telesales but struggles with more complex tasks, though that gap is narrowing quickly. Why It Matters: Other tech industry leaders have also shared their views on the subject earlier. Nvidia Corp. NVDA CEO Jensen Huang takes a more direct stance, warning that workers who don't embrace AI risk obsolescence. However, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella thinks AI will redefine cognitive labor, but it won't do so by making human workers irrelevant. Goldman Sachs estimates AI could impact 300 million full-time jobs globally, but industry analysis suggests mass redefinition rather than replacement. Read Next: AI Will Disrupt 25% Of US Jobs By 2030 -- And The Fed Can't Save Them, Economist Warns Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors. Photo courtesy: Shutterstock MSFTMicrosoft Corp$523.58-1.86%Stock Score Locked: Edge Members Only Benzinga Rankings give you vital metrics on any stock - anytime. Unlock RankingsEdge RankingsMomentum84.86Growth95.77Quality70.15Value13.54Price TrendShortMediumLongOverviewNVDANVIDIA Corp$172.51-3.01%Market News and Data brought to you by Benzinga APIs

Artificial Intelligence News: Bill Gates Warns Gen Z on Career Stability & AI Impact

Bill Gates, a co-founder of Microsoft, has given a warning to Gen Z on how fast the job market has changed because of artificial intelligence (AI). He noted AI tools are "fun and empowering," but learning to use them doesn't mean job security. AI is changing very fast; entry-level roles, once the foundation for young graduates, are disappearing, making it harder for them to find stable work. AI already has a huge impact on entry-level jobs. Since January 2023, job postings for entry-level roles have , especially in finance and consulting roles. Other tasks, such as research, data analysis, and content creation, which were previously completed by junior employees, are now automated. Even small businesses are hiring fewer entry-level employees. By 2030, experts predict that automation could eliminate 30% of work hours in the U.S., affecting younger workers. Employers now prefer junior employees who can manage AI systems, rather than those learning entry-level tasks.

Bill Gates says AI is moving at "great speed" on the jobs market: Here's why

Global inequality may worsen without urgent AI training access Bill Gates has never been shy about predicting the future, especially when it comes to technology. In a recent interview, the Microsoft co-founder said, "AI is moving at a great speed. It's changing how we work, what skills we need, and even what kind of jobs will exist." He says that AI is not just another technological wave. It's already washing over sectors from software and finance to education and customer service. Also read: Bill Gates reveals 3 professions where AI won't be able to replace humans Gates didn't mince words when describing the impact AI is already having on the workplace. He described AI as a "force multiplier," a tool that dramatically increases the output of anyone who knows how to use it effectively. "A person who understands how to use AI can be two to five times more productive," Gates explained. He pointed to how AI is accelerating tasks across fields, software development, marketing, legal research, and even scientific writing. This means companies may need fewer people for the same volume of work, or may redirect their teams toward more strategic, creative, or oversight-driven roles. But with this productivity revolution comes a reckoning. "There will be disruption," Gates acknowledged. "Some jobs will go away, some will be transformed, and entirely new ones will appear." This, he said, is the nature of every technological revolution, but AI is moving faster and deeper than most realize. Gates's biggest concern isn't about the capabilities of AI, it's about human readiness. Specifically, he warned that educational institutions are woefully out of step with the realities of an AI-powered job market. "The gap between what schools teach and what the job market needs is only getting wider," he said. Too many students are graduating without the ability to use modern tools, analyze data, or collaborate with AI systems. Even in advanced economies, most school systems are still teaching to outdated standards. Also read: Apple's new "AI answers" team: A Google rival in the making? Gates argued that the future of education must prioritize adaptability. "We need to train people for adaptability, not just specific roles. The jobs of 2030 haven't even been invented yet." In his view, curricula should be updated to focus less on rote memorization and more on creative problem-solving, digital fluency, and continuous learning - skills that will remain relevant no matter how AI evolves. Gates believes the era of predictable, linear career paths is over. "The idea of a single career path is obsolete. Lifelong learning isn't optional anymore, it's survival," he said. In the past, a college degree could offer stability and a fairly straightforward professional arc. Today, however, people are switching roles, learning new technologies, and even pivoting industries far more frequently. AI is not just automating tasks, it's redefining what jobs look like. "Learning how to use AI tools is as essential as learning to read and write," Gates emphasized. For young people, this means actively building skills outside formal education, through online platforms, internships, side projects, or even using AI tools in daily life. While much of the conversation around AI tends to focus on Silicon Valley or Western economies, Gates was quick to point out that the global implications are just as urgent. In fact, the risks could be greater in the Global South, where millions of jobs in services, retail, and logistics could be vulnerable to automation. "If we don't act now, AI could worsen global inequality," he said. "Access to tools and training must be democratized." Without deliberate intervention, countries already struggling with education and infrastructure gaps could fall further behind, deepening the digital divide. Gates urged international organizations and governments to invest in AI education, support digital upskilling initiatives, and ensure that communities and not just corporations benefit from the productivity gains AI offers. Despite the challenges, Gates made it clear he's not anti-AI. In fact, he's deeply optimistic about its potential to help solve some of humanity's toughest problems from diagnosing diseases faster to personalizing education for every child. "We've always had to adapt to new technologies," he said, reflecting on past revolutions like the printing press and the internet. "But AI is compressing decades of change into just a few years." That compression is what makes this moment feel so volatile, and so urgent. As AI continues to evolve, Gates emphasized the importance of responsible deployment. That includes building safeguards against bias, misinformation, and misuse while also ensuring that the benefits reach as many people as possible. In Gates's view, the future of work is not something we can opt out of. It's happening, with or without us. For students, this means building AI literacy today. For workers, it means embracing flexibility and retraining as a lifelong habit. And for leaders, whether in government, education, or business, it means laying the foundation for a more equitable, empowered AI-driven society. The future isn't waiting. And neither, it seems, is AI.