SEATTLE (Diya TV) — Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates has proposed new ways to manage the impact of artificial intelligence, including a possible tax on robots and rules that would keep AI out of certain jobs.
In a new essay on his Gates Notes website, Gates examined how AI could reshape work, health care and society. He highlighted its potential to speed up scientific discoveries and improve medical care, while warning about job losses and rapid adoption.
Gates said efforts to broadly slow the development of advanced AI may be difficult to sustain because companies have strong financial incentives to build and deploy more powerful systems. Instead, he suggested governments focus on practical policies to manage the technology’s impact.
One proposal is a “robot tax” aimed at reducing incentives for companies to replace workers with machines. Gates noted that employers pay payroll taxes when they hire workers, while businesses can receive tax deductions for equipment purchases.
A robot tax could help level that difference while generating money for worker retraining and social programs. However, such a policy could face opposition from businesses concerned that higher automation costs may discourage investment and innovation.
Gates also proposed creating a category of jobs called “Human Reserved,” where governments could limit or prohibit the use of AI.
Such protections could apply to jobs that employ large numbers of workers who may struggle to transition into new careers. Gates also suggested some roles, particularly in health care, may require direct human interaction even when AI could technically perform the work.
