Bill Gates says AI could cause 20 years of economic and social upheaval

Bill Gates said the transition to an AI-driven economy could reshape employment and social roles. He said machines could take over a significant share of physical work and urged governments to adopt stricter measures against cyberattacks and biological threats.

Scraper SystemOctober 24, 2026, 07:35 PM

Bill Gates says AI could cause 20 years of economic and social upheaval

Bill Gates said the transition to an AI-driven economy could reshape employment and raise questions about people's roles in society.

Speaking on the Decoder podcast, Gates said artificial intelligence could lead to 20 years of economic and social upheaval. Gates said, "My biggest concern is this 20-year transition period, in which there will be winners and losers and a lot of disruption."

Jobs machines could take on

Gates said society would need to get through this turbulent period before potentially entering an "age of abundance." He said advances in artificial intelligence and robotics could enable machines to take over a significant share of the physical work performed by people.

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Gates listed building homes, growing food and performing surgery among these tasks.

Call for governments to prepare

Gates warned that governments and society were not sufficiently prepared for the rapid development of artificial intelligence technology.

Gates stressed the need for stricter government oversight and technical measures against cyberattacks and biological threats. He said that even under the most favorable conditions, the development of artificial intelligence could usher in one of the most turbulent periods in human history.