Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates has identified three professions he believes will remain safe from being replaced by AI: biologists, energy experts, and programmers.
Bill Gates said these careers rely heavily on creativity, intuition, and complex problem-solving — qualities that current AI systems cannot fully replicate.
Bill Gates, who has long been at the forefront of technological innovation, acknowledged the revolutionary impact of AI but cautioned against assuming it will displace all human roles.
While AI excels at processing large volumes of data and supporting decision-making, it cannot replicate the instinctive leaps in thinking often required in scientific and technical fields.
“Biologists play a critical role in human development and medical discovery,” said Bill Gates. “Even with AI assistance, forming hypotheses and making conceptual breakthroughs is still a deeply human endeavour.”
In addition to biologists, Bill Gates said energy professionals and programmers would continue to be in high demand. He noted that energy experts are essential in addressing the unpredictable needs of a changing global climate, while programmers are required to build, supervise, and adapt the very AI systems transforming other sectors.
He also mentioned that while AI can support software development, the creation of complex or novel systems will continue to require human insight and adaptability, particularly as new platforms, threats, and global needs evolve.
Bill Gates added a fourth example during a recent appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, joking that athletes are also likely safe from being replaced.
“You know, like baseball — we won’t want to watch computers play baseball,” he said. “There’ll be some things we reserve for ourselves.”
Despite concerns about job loss, Bill Gates remains optimistic about AI’s potential, calling it a transformative force for sectors like healthcare, education, and agriculture — if managed responsibly. However, he stressed the need for clear policies and ethical guidelines to ensure a positive impact.
Bill Gates founded Microsoft in 1975, ushering in the era of personal computing. In recent years, he has become one of the most influential voices on technology’s impact on society, from pandemics to climate change to artificial intelligence.
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