On Sunday, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) backed Bill Gates’ warning that artificial intelligence could trigger widespread job losses and deepen inequality, urging Congress to act before the technology’s impact becomes harder to control.
Sanders Echoes Gates’ AI Fears
Sanders took to X to endorse Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ:MSFT) founder Gates’ latest warning about AI, saying the technology poses a "grave threat to jobs and the future of humanity."
"Congress must stand up to the wealth and power of the Big Tech oligarchs," Sanders said, adding, "WE MUST ACT BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE."
Gates made the case in his latest Gates Notes essay that AI could become either "the greatest equalizer ever invented" or "the worst source of injustice."
Huang Disagrees With Bill Gates’ AI Job Loss Warning
Nvidia Corp. (NASDAQ:NVDA) CEO Jensen Huang challenged Gates’ warning, arguing that the technology will ultimately create more employment opportunities "at a scale that we’ve never seen."
"I love the heck out of Bill," Huang told Fox Business. "But I don’t see what he sees."
Bill Gates Warns AI Could Eliminate Jobs
In his essay, the billionaire philanthropist said AI could rapidly disrupt both white- and blue-collar employment, particularly entry- and mid-level positions.
Unlike previous technological shifts, Gates argued, AI can spread much faster because it works with existing devices and communicates through natural language.
He also warned about AI-enabled cyberattacks, fraud, deepfakes, disinformation and potential threats to human control over increasingly capable systems.
Gates Calls For ‘Human Reserved’ Jobs, AI Tax
Gates also proposed creating "Human Reserved" roles that would remain exclusively human, particularly in areas where empathy and human connection are essential.
He also renewed his call for taxing AI and robots, arguing that the revenue could support worker retraining and stronger social safety nets.
Despite his concerns, Gates noted that AI could dramatically improve healthcare, education, agriculture and scientific research if governments ensure its benefits are broadly shared.
BofA Finds Little Link Between AI and Job Growth
Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN), Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META), Microsoft and Block Inc. (NYSE:XYZ) have pointed to AI-driven efficiency gains, restructuring and shifting resources toward AI as reasons for cutting thousands of jobs.
However, BofA economists found little evidence of a broad AI-driven jobs crisis so far, though it noted growing pressure on some white-collar and entry-level positions.
Meanwhile, Goldman Sachs Group (NYSE:GS) released research showing that industries more exposed to AI have generally seen weaker job-opening growth since 2022.
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
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