Journalist Ezra Klein’s interview with Bill Gates is here. Here is the transcript in the New York Times. Here is Gate’s essay that they discuss. Reading the essay is probably the best way to learn about Gate’s points.
My takeaways:
- Gates is very worried about AI, and mostly pessimistic.
- There is no plan: Gates doesn’t think that society or its leaders are nowhere near adequately prepared for AI.
- His biggest worry isn’t so much AI going rogue, but AI being used to create biological weapons and carry out cyberattacks.
- Gates is also pessimistic about the impact of AI on the labor market. He believes that it will lead to the loss of both white and blue collar jobs.
- Gates is in favor of much stronger AI regulation.
- Gates advocates taxing AI and robots.
- Gates acknowledges that AI can do good. The Gates Foundation is funding research in using AI for agriculture, education and healthcare in the world’s poorest countries, and he rightly sees no contradiction with his pessimistic outlook.
- At least in this interview, Gates is not a great communicator. In several places, it’s unclear what he is talking about and he frequently misunderstands Klein’s questions in an uncharitable way. He also seems to be unpleasant to talk to. None of that means he’s wrong.
