Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates is calling for governments to consider reserving a significant share of jobs exclusively for humans, warning that rapidly advancing artificial intelligence could cause serious disruption to employment and widen economic inequality.
In an interview published on August 26, 2026, Gates said society may eventually need to ensure that up to 40% of today’s jobs remain human-performed, even when AI becomes capable of carrying out the same work.
Gates Wants Up to 40% of Jobs Protected for Humans
Gates’ proposal reflects growing concern that AI agents could move beyond assisting workers and begin replacing them across a wide range of occupations.
He pointed particularly to jobs where human interaction, empathy and personal relationships have intrinsic value. Gates cited the care his father received while suffering from Alzheimer’s disease as an example of work he considered “irreplaceably human.”
The idea does not mean immediately banning AI from 40% of occupations. Rather, Gates is arguing that policymakers should begin deciding whether certain roles should remain primarily human even if machines eventually become technically capable of performing them.
AI Companies Could Face New Taxes
Gates also proposed an economic mechanism to help societies cope with AI-driven job displacement.
He suggested governments could potentially tax revenue generated when companies use AI outputs or “tokens” to replace human labour. Revenue collected through such a system could help finance safety nets for people whose jobs are disrupted by automation.
The proposal highlights a growing policy question surrounding generative AI: if companies generate major productivity gains by employing fewer people, how should the economic benefits be distributed?
Gates Says AI Risks Have Changed His Outlook
Gates has become noticeably more concerned about AI risks during 2026.
He told Reuters that recent examples demonstrating AI systems’ ability to conduct sophisticated cyberattacks had alarmed him. His concerns extend beyond employment to cybersecurity, biological threats, psychological dependence on AI companions and widening inequality.
In a new blog post, Gates described building an AI future that benefits society without harming vulnerable populations as the world’s top priority, placing the issue ahead of other major challenges including climate change and health crises.
Gates Seeks AI Talks With China’s Xi Jinping
Gates is also seeking a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, tentatively during a China visit planned for November.
He wants to discuss international cooperation on controlling potentially dangerous AI systems, including monitoring whether advanced models develop capabilities that could facilitate biological attacks or other serious threats.
Gates believes the United States should take the lead in establishing restrictions on the release of particularly dangerous AI models and argues that China and other countries could potentially follow.
Calls for International AI Regulator
Beyond national regulations, Gates wants governments to establish a new international organization dedicated to managing advanced AI risks.
His proposal draws lessons from existing international frameworks governing areas such as nuclear inspections and aviation safety. Such an organization could establish common standards for evaluating powerful AI models before their deployment.
The proposals represent one of Gates’ strongest warnings yet about artificial intelligence. While he continues to believe AI could deliver enormous benefits—particularly in healthcare and developing countries—he is increasingly arguing that technological progress alone will not guarantee a positive outcome.
His call for human-reserved jobs brings that debate directly into the workplace: as AI becomes capable of performing more tasks, societies may ultimately have to decide not only which jobs machines can do, but which jobs humans should continue to do.
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