Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates has called for stronger regulation of artificial intelligence, arguing that the technology should be governed by safeguards similar to those applied to cars, aircraft and medicines. Gates said appropriate rules could help reduce the risks associated with AI and prevent malicious actors from misusing powerful models, even if regulation cannot eliminate every potential harm. In a post on X, he stressed that current safeguards remain insufficient and that AI safety deserves greater attention as the technology advances.

“Just as we regulate planes, cars, and medicines, we need safeguards that help us realize AI's incredible potential while reducing the risks,” Gates wrote. He acknowledged that regulations would not prevent every harmful outcome but argued that they could limit deliberate misuse. “They won’t eliminate every harm, but they can help prevent misuse by bad actors,” he added. Gates said more work was needed to establish appropriate protections, emphasising that the objective should be to benefit from AI while addressing its potential dangers.

Despite advocating stronger oversight, Gates has cautioned against exaggerating predictions that AI could lead to humanity’s extinction. Speaking to CNN, he said discussions about extreme risks could sometimes become overstated. “When people act like all of humanity is at risk in some intimate way, that is going too far,” he said. However, his comments did not amount to dismissing AI-related dangers. Last month, Gates warned that the technology was powerful enough to contribute to events resulting in a billion deaths, highlighting the scale of the potential consequences if serious risks were left unmanaged.

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Gates has also argued that AI could pose greater challenges than several industries already subject to extensive safety regulations. Comparing the technology with cars, aircraft and medicines, he said there were serious possibilities that needed to be addressed through effective oversight. He maintained that a middle ground was necessary, allowing innovation to continue while ensuring that safeguards kept pace with technological development. Gates also acknowledged the role of the AI industry in raising concerns about potential dangers, suggesting that cooperation between developers and regulators would be important in addressing them.

Microsoft president Brad Smith has voiced similar concerns, arguing that AI is subject to fewer safety requirements than many everyday products. Speaking to the BBC, Smith said washing machines and milk sold in grocery stores face safety rules and inspections that do not have equivalent coverage across AI systems. Describing AI as both a “tool and a weapon”, he called for international rules to address the risks. Microsoft chief executive Satya Nadella has also warned against trusting AI models blindly as they become more capable and gain access to sensitive information. He said organisations should assume a model could be compromised and contain it from the outset, comparing the approach to an emergency brake.

The debate over AI regulation has intensified as technology companies and policymakers disagree over how strict oversight should be. OpenAI and Anthropic have supported stronger safety measures, while Meta and Nvidia have been described as taking opposing positions in the debate. US President Donald Trump has also warned that regulation could undermine America’s ability to compete with China in AI development. Meanwhile, technology leaders have signed voluntary, non-binding agreements on safer AI development. Gates’ latest comments add to calls for a regulatory framework that addresses potential misuse and serious risks without unnecessarily restricting the technology’s benefits.

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