Bill Gates wants to see a robot tax and ‘Human Reserved’ jobs to mitigate harms from AI
techcrunch ·
Bill Gates published a lengthy essay on his Gates Notes blog discussing the social impacts of AI. He aligns with the Responsible AI camp, endorsing the idea behind the 'Pacing The Frontier' open letter but doubting its sustainability. Gates is excited about AI's potential in science and healthcare yet concerned about labor displacement. To address this, he proposes a 'robot tax' that would make automation less tax-advantageous than hiring people and would fund retraining and safety nets. He also suggests designating certain jobs as 'Human Reserved,' where AI would be barred for economic or ethical reasons, such as protecting older construction workers or having humans deliver devastating medical news. Gates believes the scope of reserved jobs should evolve over time and that AI should be phased in gradually. The article notes these proposals would significantly reduce major AI labs' profits, which may explain their lack of traction. Unresolved questions remain about who would set such rules and what they would specifically entail.
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