Bill Gates predicts AI will replace doctors and teachers within the next decade

Microsoft co-founder and billionaire Bill Gates claimed that within the next decade, advances in artificial intelligence will make humans unnecessary "for most tasks" in the world. Gates made this statement during an interview with comedian Jimmy Fallon on NBC's "The Tonight Show."

According to Gates, expertise currently remains "rare" — we still rely on human specialists in many fields, including "excellent doctors" and "talented teachers." However, this situation will change dramatically in the coming years.

With AI, over the next decade, that will become free, commonplace — great medical advice, great tutoring.

— Gates emphasized

The world is entering a new era of what Gates called "free intelligence" in a recent interview with Harvard University professor Arthur Brooks. The result will be rapid advancements in AI-based technologies available for mass use and affecting virtually all aspects of our lives — from improved medicines and diagnostics to ubiquitous AI mentors and virtual assistants.

It’s very profound and even a little bit scary — because it’s happening very quickly, and there is no upper bound.

— Gates noted in his conversation with Brooks

The discussion about how most people will fit into this AI future continues. Some experts argue that AI will help people work more efficiently rather than replace them completely, and will stimulate economic growth, leading to new job creation.

Others, like Microsoft AI CEO Mustafa Suleyman, counter that ongoing technological advances in the coming years will transform most professions across nearly every industry and have a "tremendously destabilizing" impact on the labor market.

Gates remains optimistic about the overall benefits AI can provide to humanity, including "breakthrough treatments for deadly diseases, innovative solutions for climate change, and high-quality education for everyone."

In his conversation with Fallon, Gates confirmed his belief that certain types of jobs likely will never be replaced by AI, noting that people probably won't want to see machines playing baseball.

There will be some things we reserve for ourselves. But in terms of making things and moving things and growing food, over time those will be basically solved problems"

— Gates stated