No government is ready for the AI risks that artificial intelligence will bring, Bill Gates said in an interview with Reuters. He also warned of the challenges ahead for society.

The Microsoft co-founder and philanthropist had long been optimistic about AI. However, he has now shifted his stance. He pointed to threats to jobs, concerns about cyberattacks, and the dangers of addiction to AI companions.

“I don’t think any government is nearly as deep on this as they have to be,” he said. Still, he added that the technology holds great potential to help the world’s poorest, as long as it is managed properly and accessed equally.

Meanwhile, his namesake foundation said on Tuesday that it plans to spend at least $1 billion over the next two years. The funding will go toward expanding access to AI worldwide.

Gates said he has been discussing these AI risks with world leaders, including President Donald Trump and his team in the U.S. He also said he aims to meet China’s President Xi Jinping later this year.

“Governments are way behind on this one,” he added.

Despite his concerns, Gates and his foundation hope AI can help narrow the gap between the richest and poorest. They believe it should not widen existing divides.

The foundation’s $1 billion plan is part of its broader commitment to spend $9 billion annually. Consequently, funds will go to partners working in education, healthcare, and agriculture. In addition, the plan aims to help build the data foundations AI depends on, including ensuring large language models work in every language people speak.

“For health it’s hard to overstate what the potential is,” Gates said. He pointed to everything from supporting frontline health care workers to discovering new drugs and vaccines.

Nevertheless, he stressed that governments must work together to avoid problems. He likened the arrival of AI to a disaster movie.

“There’s all sorts of movies where some aliens are coming, and magically the U.S. and China and everybody comes together to solve the problem,” he said. “AI is kind of like this alien intelligence. It’s here, and we better do like it shows in those movies.”

Ultimately, Gates’s warning highlights a growing tension. While the AI risks are real and governments remain unprepared, the technology could still transform lives for the better, provided the world acts together.

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