Bill Gates Warns AI Could Lead to a Billion Deaths: ‘There’s Never Been a Weapon This Powerful’

Microsoft co-founder and billionaire philanthropist Bill Gates has warned that artificial intelligence, if exploited by malicious actors, could potentially lead to the deaths of a billion people. He also called for stronger safeguards and government oversight of the technology’s development.

Gates made the remarks in an interview with NBC’s Meet the Press, urging lawmakers to strengthen oversight of artificial intelligence. He said that, if misused, AI could become a tool capable of pushing humanity toward catastrophe.

“AI is certainly powerful enough to drive events that, you know, cause a billion deaths,” Gates warned.

“And even though it’s pretty hard to get to 100%, there’s never been a weapon as powerful as the combination of people with ill intent using the latest AI tools,” he added.

Gates explained that without appropriate safeguards and monitoring, potential terrorists or other malicious actors could exploit AI to develop weapons or create dangerous biological agents. He has previously warned that advanced AI could lower the barriers to designing pathogens and carrying out other forms of mass harm.

“I would like it to be easier to distinguish good intentions — like when someone wants to develop a new drug to treat a disease — from bad intentions, when they want to create a tool for bioterrorism,” Gates said.

Warnings about the potential dangers of artificial intelligence have also come from other technology leaders in recent weeks. The debate has intensified amid growing concerns about the risks posed by increasingly powerful AI systems.

Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman have both expressed support for slowing the pace of AI development, amid broader discussions about safety and regulation.

At the same time, U.S. President Donald Trump has opposed calls for broader federal regulation of artificial intelligence, arguing that excessive restrictions could undermine the United States’ position in competition with China in the rapidly developing technology sector.

Gates, however, has argued that sensible government oversight does not have to weaken the U.S. position in the AI race. He said mandatory safeguards and monitoring would represent only a modest additional burden for the industry.

“You’ll hear from people in the industry: ‘This is doable.’ It won’t dramatically slow down what they’re doing,” Gates said.