Archive · 27 Aug 2026
Bill Gates Urges Token Tax as AI Threatens Jobs
Bill Gates is worried that artificial intelligence may change work very quickly.
He says AI could perform many jobs that people do today.
In the past, new technology often created different jobs for workers who lost theirs.
Gates thinks AI may spread across too many industries for that solution to work well.
He suggested a tax on companies that use AI to replace employees.
He also proposed keeping some jobs, such as caregiving, mainly for people.
Gates wants governments to test powerful AI systems for dangers involving biology and weapons.
He says countries should cooperate on rules for dangerous AI.
He was surprised by how quickly AI coding tools improved and said governments are not acting urgently enough.
Bill Gates warned that rapidly advancing AI could cause unprecedented job displacement and threaten human life.
He said AI may spread across enough industries that displaced workers have too few new sectors to enter.
Gates backed a “token tax” on businesses using AI to replace workers and proposed “Human Reserved” jobs.
He called for mandatory safety assessments and international rules for AI that could aid biological-weapon development.
Gates said AI coding tools such as Claude have advanced beyond his expectations, leaving him in a “state of shock.”
- Who
- Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, along with governments and technology companies involved in AI development.
- What
- Gates warned about AI-driven job losses and safety risks, and proposed a token tax, Human Reserved jobs, and international safety rules.
- When
- During an interview with The New York Times; the articles do not provide a specific date.
- Where
- The discussion concerned AI development and government responses internationally.
- Why
- Gates said AI capabilities are improving rapidly, investment pressures may discourage public warnings, and governments have not responded urgently enough.
Gates’ Cautionary View
Full-Speed AI Development
Discussion of AI risks
Gates’ Cautionary View
Gates said people who understand AI’s progress are privately worried and that its dangers should be discussed more openly.
Full-Speed AI Development
Gates said some technology executives may avoid publicly raising concerns because they fear harming efforts to attract further investment.
Response to job displacement
Gates’ Cautionary View
Gates proposed a token tax and Human Reserved jobs to help address large-scale AI-related job losses.
Full-Speed AI Development
The articles describe companies continuing to develop AI rapidly while hoping its benefits will outweigh potential damage.
AI safety regulation
Gates’ Cautionary View
Gates called for mandatory assessments and international rules for AI that could contribute to bioterrorism.
Full-Speed AI Development
The articles do not identify a specific alternative proposal from governments or technology companies, but say decision-makers have not acted with the urgency Gates wants.
- Main concern
- Rapid AI development could cause widespread job displacement and create risks to human life.
- Proposed tax
- A “token tax” would raise the cost for businesses using AI to replace human workers.
- Use of revenue
- Gates said tax revenue could support people who lose jobs because of automation.
- Protected jobs
- “Human Reserved” roles could include caregiving and other work involving deeply personal human interaction.
- Safety assessments
- Gates called for assessments of AI systems that could design molecules or assist biological-weapon development.
- International rules
- He urged countries to create agreements for monitoring and restricting potentially dangerous AI systems.
- Coding tools
- Gates said tools including Claude had become meaningfully better than him in some coding-related areas.
