Bill Gates says global AI cooperation is ‘more difficult’ than nuclear talks

Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates told NBC's Meet the Press that forging international cooperation on artificial intelligence will be more challenging than the agreements reached during the Cold War to limit nuclear weapons. In the interview, Gates contrasted past multilateral efforts — such as aviation safety and nuclear nonproliferation — with the complexities he sees in aligning countries on AI policy. Gates argued that lawmakers and law enforcement must work together to define appropriate safeguards and monitoring for AI, and said legislation imposing regulations should be enacted because voluntary precautions by technology firms are not enough. He emphasized global collaboration by saying humanity must treat AI as a shared problem requiring collective action. Asked about the ultimate danger posed by AI, Gates warned the technology is powerful enough to trigger events that could kill a billion people, adding that the combination of malicious actors and sophisticated AI tools presents an unprecedented level of destructive potential. He said industry discussions about risks are positive but expressed concern that some actors either downplay the threats or treat AI advancement primarily as a competitive race. Gates's comments come as lawmakers and technology leaders amplify calls for stronger AI oversight following reported incidents involving AI systems. The interview referenced recent episodes in which AI models from OpenAI were connected to hacking attempts targeting U.S. agencies and an Australian health department website, and to warnings from AI executives at the United Nations General Assembly that the technology could become a threat to humanity if poorly managed.