Bill Gates, cofounder and former CEO of Microsoft, told Vatican News that artificial intelligence requires government oversight rather than industry self-regulation to manage risks and maximize benefits. Speaking in an interview published Oct. 13, Gates said the technology sector cannot regulate itself and that policymakers must harness AI's potential in healthcare, education, and agriculture while minimizing harms to vulnerable populations. The Gates Foundation has committed $1 billion over two years to direct AI development toward low-income regions that market forces would otherwise overlook.
Gates praised Pope Leo XIV's encyclical "Magnifica humanitas" for advocating preservation of human dignity amid technological change rather than opposing AI development outright. He noted that technology industry leaders, despite competitive disagreements, unanimously support government-led governance of AI development. Gates warned that without intentional intervention, the most advanced AI tools will serve wealthy populations first, potentially widening inequality between rich and poor nations.
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