Bill Gates Urges Governments to Establish ‘Human-Reserved’ Jobs and a ‘Robot Tax’ to Protect Workers from AI

“Many jobs will disappear forever,” the tech mogul warned in a new essay

NEED TO KNOW

• Bill Gates is urging governments to consider creating “Human Reserved” jobs that would remain in human hands even as AI and robotics become more capable in a new essay
• He also proposed a “robot tax” that would tax companies that opt to use AI or robots over human employees
• Gates argues that decisions about where humans should remain essential must be made deliberately by governments and communities, rather than left solely to tech companies

Bill Gates is calling on world leaders to keep jobs safe from AI.

In a new essay published on Gates Notes, Gates’ personal website and publishing platform, on Wednesday, Aug. 26, the Microsoft co-founder and philanthropist, 70, argues that governments should consider creating a category of work he calls “Human Reserved” as AI increasingly transforms the workplace.

“I believe that as AI and robots improve, we’ll set aside certain things for only people to do,” Gates wrote. “I’ve started calling this domain Human Reserved, and it’s an example of the kinds of ideas we’ll need to consider.”

Gates compared the concept to protecting land from development even when building on it would technically be possible.

“I like the phrase Human Reserved because it makes me think of nature reserves — places where we could put buildings and roads, but we choose not to because the loss would be too great,” he explained.

Gates acknowledged that deciding what qualifies as “Human Reserved” would be complicated, and that the answers may differ between countries as technology advances.

“Some countries might insist on having humans take care of the elderly. But a country like Japan, which has a shrinking workforce and not enough young people to care for the old, may welcome a caregiving robot,” he wrote.

The proposal is part of Gates’ broader warning that governments need to prepare now for dramatic changes to employment brought on by AI.

“Many jobs will disappear forever,” he said, predicting that entry- and mid-level positions could be particularly vulnerable.

Gates said jobs in customer service, sales, software engineering and paralegal work may be among those affected early on, while AI could ultimately handle tasks ranging from analyzing loan applications to evaluating data and helping triage patients.

Physical jobs may not be immune to AI replacement either. As robotics improves and becomes less expensive, Gates predicts machines could begin competing with humans for some work in industries such as construction and hospitality before the end of the decade.

“Robots and AI combined can create a vicious cycle,” he wrote. “After one company adopts them and uses the savings to lower its prices, its competitors will feel immense pressure to do the same.”

“Many people will shift to other jobs, but the turmoil of losing work, getting retrained, and finding other work will be significant,” he added.

The tech mogul added that he’s “especially worried about young people,” who he predicts “will enter a workforce with fewer entry-level openings.”

However, Gates also said he refuses to believe that nothing can be done.

“In a moment like this, it’s natural to feel unsettled. But history shows that it’s possible to solve the challenges created by new technologies,” he wrote.

Along with creating protections for some human jobs, Gates proposed a “robot tax” that would tax companies that opt to use AI or robots over human employees. The money raised by the taxes would then help fund worker retraining and strengthen social safety nets for people whose employment or income is affected.

Ultimately, he added, decisions about how AI reshapes society should not be left solely to the companies developing the technology.

“This unprecedented technology demands an unprecedented global response,” Gates wrote. “If we get it right, the payoff for humanity will be phenomenal and the world will be a more equitable place.”

He concluded his essay with a message to leaders, writing: “You have a chance to act now, before unemployment rises sharply, communities are hurting, and public trust has eroded.”

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Gates previously spoke on the dangers of AI on the workforce in an hour-long interview with The New York Times earlier this month, claiming that many tech executives are fully aware of the effects that technology will have on the average person, but are unwilling to admit it publicly.

His recent comments come several months after he testified before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform in June about his interactions with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

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