Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates warns that the rapid development in the AI industry could leave some investors paying a steep price.
In a new CNBC interview, Gates says companies racing to build AI infrastructure don’t get to opt out, even if some investments prove costly or poorly timed.
According to the Microsoft co-founder, the pressure to stay in the AI race will inevitably punish investors who make one or two critical errors.
“Some of them, you know, they’ll commit to data centers whose electricity is too expensive that it could be done overseas. They’ll buy a generation of chips, and they won’t have captured all their value before the next one comes along. But if you want to be a tech company, you don’t get to say, ‘No, let’s check out of this race.'”
Gates’ comments echo Mark Zuckerberg’s sentiments about the risks and rewards of pouring hundreds of billions of dollars into the AI push. Zuckerberg said he has accepted the possibility that the firm could lose $200 billion, as falling behind the AI race is not an option for the firm.
The Microsoft co-founder adds that the economic stakes are enormous, comparing AI’s arc to the most transformative inventions in history.
“The AI is the biggest technical thing ever in my lifetime. I mean, it is so profound… the economic value, this is basically intelligence… The value is extremely high.”
He also notes societal pressure around workforce disruption, saying acknowledging job impacts is necessary as the technology scales.
“There will be some impact on the job market… It’s only honest for people to speak frankly about the fact this will have a big effect on the job market.”
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