Assessing the effects of artificial intelligence's rapid development on the economy and society, Bill Gates said the technology could lead to 20 years of economic and social upheaval.
Speaking on the Decoder podcast, Gates said the transition to an AI-driven economy could change employment patterns and raise questions about people's roles in society. Gates said, "My biggest concern is this 20-year transition period, in which there will be winners and losers and a lot of upheaval."
Machines will take on more physical work
According to Gates, society will need to get through this turbulent transition period before it can potentially reach an "age of abundance." He said advances in artificial intelligence and robotics could enable machines to take over a significant share of the physical work currently performed by people.

Gates also listed building homes, growing food and performing surgery among the tasks machines could take on.
Warning about cyberattacks and biological threats
Gates said that neither governments nor society were sufficiently prepared for the rapid development of artificial intelligence technology and called for more comprehensive preparations.
Gates called for tighter government oversight and technical measures to counter cyberattacks and biological threats. He said that even under the most favorable conditions, the development of artificial intelligence could usher in one of the most turbulent periods in human history.