Bill Gates has been reflecting a lot on AI lately, and the process has triggered a stark awakening. Once a staunch AI optimist, the Microsoft cofounder is now deeply pessimistic about what AI means for our collective future.
Having been conspicuously quiet on AI issues recently, Gates is back with a nearly 6,000-word essay seeking to reclaim a central role in shaping the technology globally. Titled "The turbulent AI era is here. The choices we make now are critical," Gates warns the world is not remotely ready for what is coming. Worse still, he notes, "we are not preparing for it."
Gates attempts to chart a path forward, but the essay l …
