Bill Gates: wants to see a robot tax and ‘Human Reserved’ jobs to mitigate

Bill Gates has posted a long essay on his personal website, discussing the social implications of Artificial Intelligence (AI). The Microsoft co-founder emphasizes his stance on the need for responsible AI development and highlights potential solutions to address its impacts.

The essay reveals Gates' efforts to redefine how we approach AI, moving beyond simplistic discussions of benefits and risks. He suggests a multifaceted strategy that prioritizes the preservation of human jobs and capacities. For related coverage, explore our detailed analysis on Technology and Digital Systems.

Dismantling Barriers: A New Approach

At the heart of this proposal is the concept of a 'robot tax,' which proposes a unique solution to the issue of labor displacement

Gates also suggests setting aside certain jobs as 'Human Reserved,' effectively barring AI from participating in these roles. This approach acknowledges that not all tasks can be easily automated and prioritizes preserving human skills and capacities.

The idea of Human Reserved jobs is an interesting concept, with potential applications across various sectors. For instance, in the healthcare sector, a robot providing news of an incurable disease should not be implemented.

Preserving Human Skills

Gates' proposal highlights the need for policymakers to take action on this issue. However, there are still many unanswered questions about how these rules would be set and what exactly they would say.

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Bill Gates posted a long essay to his Gates Notes site today, showing just how much the Microsoft co-founder has been thinking about the social impacts of AI.

Gates is mostly in the Responsible AI camp, arguing that Pacing The Frontier , the open letter published He also expressed excitement about AI’s benefits to science and healthcare, but worried about the labor impacts — all pretty familiar stuff if you follow Anthropic’s policy work .

But there were a few genuinely new ideas that could change the conversation if they take off. For starters, he proposes a “robot tax”: Right now, if you’re an employer and you hire someone, you pay payroll taxes on their earnings.

But if you buy a robot, you can usually write it off right away as a business expense.

The tax system nudges you toward replacing people with machines. A tax would slow the rush away from human labor a little and raise money for retraining and a stronger safety net.