Bill Gates warns AI will bring "one of the most turbulent times in human history"

Bill Gates published a nearly 6,000-word essay on gatesnotes.com on August 26, 2026, abandoning his earlier AI optimism. He warned that "the transition to this new AI era will be one of the most turbulent times in human history" and that "the world is not remotely ready." Gates urged political leaders to act before unemployment surges, proposing a token tax on AI usage and reserving certain jobs for humans.