Bill Gates Predicts AI Will Replace Doctors and Teachers in a Decade

Bill Gates forecasts that within ten years, artificial intelligence (AI) will render human involvement unnecessary “for most things,” including roles like doctors and teachers. Speaking on NBC’s The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon in February, the Microsoft co-founder highlighted that expertise, such as that of skilled doctors or teachers, is currently “rare” but vital.

Gates predicted AI will soon make “great medical advice” and “great tutoring” freely available and commonplace. In a recent discussion with Harvard’s Arthur Brooks, he described this shift as an era of “free intelligence,” with AI transforming fields like healthcare, education, and virtual assistance.

“It’s profound and a bit scary because it’s happening so fast, with no upper limit,” Gates told Brooks.

While some experts argue AI will boost productivity and create jobs rather than replace workers, Gates remains optimistic about its potential. In a September CNBC Make It interview, he noted that billions are being invested in AI startups, urging young innovators to seize the opportunity.

“I’m encouraging young people at Microsoft, OpenAI, wherever I find them: ‘Here’s the frontier,’” Gates said, emphasizing AI’s transformative power, which has surpassed even his own expectations.