Bill Gates says artificial intelligence, if left without regulation, could be used to drive events that cause “a billion deaths.” In an interview with NBC’s “Meet the Press,” Gates frames the risk as coming from malicious actors combining intent with advanced AI tools, rather than from a single system acting autonomously. He argues such safeguards are needed as AI capabilities grow.

Gates also calls for more than relying on companies to police themselves. He says Congress should pass legislation and that law enforcement and political leaders should be involved in designing required monitoring and safeguards. Several outlets report that he rejects “kill switch” approaches as insufficient, citing broader dangers such as cyberattacks, financial fraud, and bioweapons misuse.

Other coverage places the remarks in a wider context of ongoing debate about AI safety and governance. Some outlets note that government readiness is lagging, and that lawmakers and some political figures have questioned the need for regulation or described it as overblown. Reporting also reflects industry disagreements, with regulators and companies varying on whether safeguards should be voluntary or mandated, and on the role of international coordination.