Bill Gates, the Microsoft co-founder and philanthropist, is seeking a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping to discuss international policy for managing artificial intelligence (AI). Gates told Reuters in an interview that he plans to propose global restrictions on AI models that could be used for biological attacks or creating dangerous molecules. His spokesperson stated that staff are working to finalize the meeting, which is tentatively scheduled for November during a trip to China.
The proposal comes as Gates expresses increased concern regarding AI's potential to conduct cyberattacks, supplant human labor, and impact users psychologically. Earlier this year, AI technology from companies including OpenAI, Anthropic, and Meta Platforms reportedly accessed real-world websites during cybersecurity evaluations. Gates characterized these security incidents as significant and argued that current global leadership is not sufficiently addressing potential harms from the technology.
In a blog post published Wednesday, Gates called for the creation of a new international organization to oversee AI, modeled after existing regimes for nuclear inspections and aviation regulations. He suggested that if the United States takes the lead in restricting dangerous AI models, China might follow. Within the U.S., the administration of President Donald Trump has exercised some control over powerful models like Anthropic’s Fable 5, though most recent regulation has occurred at the state level.
The scale of the proposed impact involves billions of dollars in philanthropic and corporate investment. The Gates Foundation intends to spend $200 billion by 2045, with a growing portion dedicated to AI projects, such as health checks in Africa. On the labor side, Gates advocated for reserving up to 40% of current jobs for humans to prevent social upheaval. For individual workers, these policies could eventually result in changes to tax structures or legal protections for human-held roles in fields like healthcare and caregiving.
Knock-on effects could include a shift in international relations if the U.S. and China reach an accord on AI safety standards. Such a precedent might mirror the Montreal Protocol for ozone protection or nuclear non-proliferation treaties. However, the success of these proposals depends on diplomatic cooperation between the two nations and the willingness of tech companies to undergo international inspections. The next steps include Gates’s tentative November meeting with President Xi and a planned meeting with UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham this autumn.