Bill Gates raises AI safety alarm: Reaching global accord could be harder than Cold War nuclear treaty

Bill Gates has warned that reaching a global agreement on AI safeguards could be harder than Cold War-era nuclear negotiations. He said AI regulation would not necessarily weaken the US in its technology race with China, despite Donald Trump’s opposition to slowing development.

Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates has warned that settling on an international treaty governing AI might be more difficult than the Cold War-era negotiations for nuclear arms reduction. In an interview with NBC News’ Meet the Press aired on Sunday, September 27, Gates said governments need to work together on AI safeguards without allowing regulation to derail the US technology race with China.

His remarks follow US President Donald Trump's continued opposition to slowing AI development. Trump wrote on Truth Social earlier this month, “WHOEVER WINS AI, WINS! ”, arguing that the US is ahead of China and should maintain its lead. Monitoring and safeguards would not have to detract from the US position in the international competition for AI, Gates said.

Gates calls for global AI cooperation

Gates pointed to previous international agreements on issues such as aviation safety, ozone protection and nuclear weapons as examples of US-led cooperation. He said the same should apply to AI, too, where countries must acknowledge that the technology is a risk that transcends boundaries.

He also said that he would like to meet Trump to discuss the issue. Gates said that while there would be some such requirements for AI companies under government oversight, they wouldn't slow down technological advancement significantly. He has also claimed that a complete reliance on the self-regulation of companies is not enough.

Gates warns of mass-casualty threat

Gates also spoke about the dangers of malicious use of AI. During the NBC interview, he said AI is powerful enough to help drive events that could cause a billion deaths.

Pragya Singha Roy