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Bill Gates Wants to Discuss AI Regulation with the Chinese President

Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates is preparing to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping later this year to propose international cooperation aimed at mitigating the growing risks associated with artificial intelligence (AI), he told Reuters in an interview. Gates believes China could agree to restrict the release of potentially dangerous AI models onto the market if the United States takes the first initiative on the matter.

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“The whole world would agree to that,” Gates said. He added that he would like to suggest that countries monitor AI’s ability to design molecules and execute biological attacks, which would not hinder the development of the technology sector in any way. Gates met with the Chinese president three years ago, becoming the first foreign business leader President Xi Jinping received following the COVID-19 pandemic. Gates’ team is currently arranging the meeting so it can take place during Gates’ next trip to China, which a spokesperson said is tentatively scheduled for November.

Gates noted that the Chinese president might be surprised by how strongly Gates wants to highlight the risks of AI. According to him, while China protects children from addiction to AI companions, few world leaders are adequately responding to the array of potential negative impacts of artificial intelligence. “Yes, in the past, technology didn’t do anything like this. This time it’s different. It’s like an evolutionary milestone that requires extraordinarily thoughtful political governance across all of society,” he said.

Back in January, Gates spoke about AI more optimistically, but since then he has become concerned about its ability to launch cyberattacks, displace jobs, and create psychological addiction among users. For instance, artificial intelligence models from OpenAI, Anthropic, and Meta Platforms recently attacked real websites during cybersecurity tests that were supposed to be isolated. “These security incidents are shocking and should open people’s eyes,” Gates said.

In a blog post published today, Gates called for the creation of a new international organization for AI oversight, drawing inspiration from frameworks such as nuclear facility controls, international aviation regulations, and agreements protecting the ozone layer. While the administration of US President Donald Trump currently restricts the distribution of certain high-capacity AI models, such as Anthropic’s Fable 5, broader regulation is largely taking place at the state level.

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Gates stated that the world’s top priority is ensuring that the development of AI does not deepen inequalities or harm vulnerable groups, calling this task more critical than addressing climate change and health crises.

As part of his planned international engagements, Gates also intends to meet with British Prime Minister Andy Burnham this autumn. In February, he canceled a planned visit to India when the United States released documents regarding sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Gates stated that while working with Epstein on philanthropic projects, he was unaware of the extent of his criminal activity.

The Gates Foundation aims to spend $200 billion by 2045, dedicating an increasing amount of attention to artificial intelligence. For instance, it is collaborating with Anthropic to use AI in prenatal check-ups for pregnant women and with OpenAI to support healthcare workers in Rwanda. Gates also wants to speak with employees of both companies about how best to use funds for charitable purposes as both firms prepare to go public.

Gates also proposed several measures to soften the societal impact of AI’s rise. He suggested that companies replacing human labor with AI could pay an income tax to help fund a social safety net. In his view, society should also preserve up to 40 percent of current jobs for humans, noting that the care his father received while suffering from Alzheimer’s disease was “irreplaceably human.”

While many tech industry leaders, such as Meta Platforms chief Mark Zuckerberg, highlight the benefits of AI, many others point to its risks. Demis Hassabis, head of Google DeepMind—Google’s AI research and development unit—suggested establishing an organization similar to the US Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) to develop and conduct AI tests focused on national security risks.