On the Tonight Show, Bill Gates, co-founder of Microsoft, offered his vision for a future transformed by artificial intelligence. During his interview, he asked, “What will jobs be like? Should we just work like 2 or 3 days a week?” said Bill Gates. He predicted that by 2035 machines would handle most tasks, reducing the need for human labor in many industries.
Gates explained that artificial intelligence would transform sectors such as healthcare and education. He said, “Artificial intelligence, in the next decade, will become free and common: what awaits us are great medical consultations and excellent education generated by AI,” said Gates. He argued that automation would boost productivity and provide services like medical diagnoses, mental health support, and learning experiences while easing shortages of professionals like doctors and teachers.
Earlier, Gates predicted that society would adopt a three-day workweek as AI tools emerged, and he later stressed that automation might reduce workweeks to two days. He noted that fields including manufacturing, transportation, and agriculture would eventually rely on technology to replace tasks. “Intelligence is rare. You know, a good doctor, a good teacher... with AI in the coming decade, it will be free and common to have good medical advice, good tutoring. And this is profound because it solves all these specific problems, like that we don't have enough doctors or, you know, psychiatrists,” said Gates.
Gates’s forecasts sparked debate among industry leaders. Jamie Dimon, CEO of JPMorgan, suggested that AI could lead to a three-and-a-half day workweek. Gates acknowledged uncertainties over how these changes would be implemented and maintained that rethinking the concept of work was essential as machines assumed more responsibilities.
Gates also pointed out that AI would help address workforce shortages. He said, “With the help of AI, we can overcome the shortage of workers,” said Gates, adding that while many jobs might become automated, certain areas such as professional sports and creative endeavors would continue to benefit from human expertise.
The article was written with the assistance of a news analysis system.