Bill Gates is deeply worried about AI, and he’s no longer staying quiet

Bill Gates, chair of the Gates Foundation, speaks during a 2024 conference. | Bloomberg via Getty Images Bill Gates has been reflecting a lot on AI lately, and the process has triggered a stark awakening.

Once a staunch AI optimist, the Microsoft cofounder is now deeply pessimistic about what AI means for our collective future. Having been conspicuously quiet on AI issues recently, Gates is back with a nearly 6,000-word essay seeking to reclaim a central role in shaping the technology globally.