3 key takeaways from Bill Gates’ stark warning about AI and jobs

Bill Gates.

Bloomberg/Getty Images Bill Gates said robots could begin competing with workers in construction and hospitality by the end of the decade.

He said society may need to set aside some jobs for people, calling the idea "Human Reserved." Gates also said that governments should tax AI tokens and robots to help fund worker support.

Bill Gates has warned that the world needs to do more to prepare for a "turbulent AI era" before workers are "displaced or underemployed." In a nearly 5,900-word blog post published on Wednesday, the Microsoft cofounder said that AI and robotics will eventually reach beyond the white-collar jobs already under pressure from the technology.

"In terms of equity, AI will either be the greatest equalizer ever invented, or the worst source of injustice," Gates wrote .

"The challenge is monumental." He said policymakers should consider protecting certain jobs for humans and taxing automation to help fund retraining and a stronger safety net.

Here are three takeaways from Gates' warning about AI and jobs.

1.

Robots could bring AI disruption to blue-collar jobs So far, most of the job fallout from AI has centered on white-collar work .

Gates said blue-collar workers will eventually be affected too as robots become cheaper and more capable.

"Many Americans I talk to don't realize how fast dexterous robots are advancing," he wrote.

He said "smart" robots could start competing with people on some physical tasks in construction and hospitality "by the end of the decade." 2.

Some jobs could be set aside for humans Gates said that, as AI and robots improve, society may decide to set aside some work for people only, an idea he calls "Human Reserved." He gave the example of receiving an incurable disease diagnosis from a robot.

"There's no technical reason why it couldn't," he wrote.