Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates has urged governments to consider reserving certain occupations exclusively for humans as artificial intelligence and robotics accelerate changes in the global labour market.
In a 6,000-word essay titled The Turbulent AI Era Is Here. The Choices We Make Are Critical, Gates warned that increasingly capable AI systems could permanently eliminate a significant number of jobs, forcing governments to rethink how societies respond to automation.
He proposed the creation of “human-reserved” roles, comparing the concept to nature reserves where certain areas are deliberately protected from development because of their value.
Gates argued that some forms of work should remain human-led even when machines become technically capable of performing them.
Healthcare, he said, provides a clear example of why certain human roles may need protection.
Reflecting on the care his father received before his death from Alzheimer’s disease six years ago, Gates said there were aspects of that care that could not be meaningfully replaced by machines.
“Something in the care they gave my dad was irreplaceably human, no robot could or should have done it,” he wrote.
He questioned whether society should allow machines to take over deeply personal responsibilities, such as delivering serious medical news to patients, simply because they are technically capable of doing so.
Governments face wider AI challenge
Gates also warned that the disruption caused by AI would extend well beyond employment and could affect major areas of public policy and national life.
He said governments would need to establish domestic and international frameworks capable of managing the technology’s impact on national security, education, taxation, energy, elections, public health, financial systems, law enforcement, transportation and government technology.
According to Gates, the speed at which AI is developing could test the ability of existing institutions to respond effectively.
He also called for greater international cooperation to manage the risks associated with AI, including cooperation between the United States and China.
His staff are reportedly working to arrange a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in November to discuss international efforts to mitigate AI-related risks.
Gates last met President Xi three years ago, when he became the first foreign entrepreneur hosted by the Chinese leader since the COVID-19 pandemic.
Gates raises concerns over AI and learning
Beyond employment and governance, Gates expressed concern that widespread reliance on AI could affect people’s ability to think critically and learn independently.
He warned that although AI could give people unprecedented access to information and learning tools, it could also encourage dependence on technology rather than deeper engagement with information.
“Ironically, the same tool that will allow people to learn more than ever could also lead to many people learning less,” he wrote.
Gates referred to a preliminary survey that reportedly found an association between heavier AI use and lower levels of critical thinking, with the effect said to be more pronounced among younger users.
His comments come as governments, businesses and educational institutions grapple with the rapid expansion of AI and its potential to reshape employment, education and public services.
For Gates, the challenge is not simply deciding how quickly AI should be adopted, but determining which responsibilities society should deliberately keep in human hands even as machines become increasingly capable.
