Bill Gates says “AI will replace humans for most things” in 20 years, including blue-and white-collar jobs — but floats short work weeks and early retirement as trade-offs

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Over the last several months, Bill Gates, co-founder of Microsoft, has taken on a role that resembles more of a seer or futurist, offering intriguing insights and forecasts about the future development of AI with profound capabilities, and eventually, its influence on mankind.

As a researcher, I found myself reflecting on a statement made by a generous benefactor in February. He predicted that AI would surpass humans in many areas, suggesting we could have the autonomy to select tasks and pursuits that hold personal value for us. With a touch of humor, he suggested that no one would enjoy watching robots play baseball – a sentiment I wholeheartedly agree with!

He also pointed out that just three careers might thrive during the age of artificial intelligence: biologists, energy specialists, and programmers. According to Gates, these domains are so intricate that they cannot be entirely managed by AI, and thus require human involvement.

Expanding upon this idea, the co-founder of Microsoft has been offering further insights into the future landscape of work, given the increasing role of artificial intelligence. In a recent conversation with Nikhil Kamath on a Zerodha podcast, he shared his views on this topic as reported by The Economic Times.

20 years from now, it’s likely that advancements in AI will have significantly altered our societal structure. The traditional capitalist framework might not provide a comprehensive explanation as AI could take over both white-collar and blue-collar jobs, becoming proficient at tasks that humans currently perform.

The millionaire linked his tax reductions to a prediction that global issues like skill shortages in fields such as healthcare, education, and others might diminish in the future.

As a tech enthusiast, I find myself intrigued by the perspective of this executive. Instead of seeing the dramatic shifts as a negative, he embraces them wholeheartedly. To him, these changes pave the way for compressed workweeks, enabling individuals like me to retire earlier and enjoy more leisure time.

Previously, the Microsoft co-founder has suggested on multiple occasions that the advent of AI might lead to a workweek significantly shorter than the current five days within the next decade, potentially offering only two or three working days per week.

Do you think AI will replace humans and steal jobs? Share your thoughts with us in the comments.

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2025-04-15 13:09