Bill Gates has called for the creation of "Human Reserved" jobs and the implementation of taxes on robots and AI tokens.
These proposals highlight growing concerns that rapid automation could destabilize the global workforce. If adopted, such policies would represent a fundamental shift in how governments regulate the economic impact of artificial intelligence.
In a 6,000-word essay [1], Gates said that the current trajectory of AI and robotics adoption poses significant societal risks. He suggested that certain roles should be legally or socially designated as reserved for humans to preserve employment for the average person [1].
To fund social protections and mitigate the loss of traditional income, Gates proposed a new tax structure. "We need to consider taxing AI tokens and robots to protect the average person," Gates said [2].
This approach targets the core components of generative AI, tokens, and the physical hardware of automation. By taxing these inputs, Gates suggests that the financial gains from AI efficiency could be redistributed to those displaced by the technology [2].
Beyond taxation, the essay warns of the volatility accompanying this technological shift. Gates said the AI era will be one of the most turbulent times in human history [1].
He said that policy safeguards are necessary to ensure that the transition to an AI-driven economy does not leave a large portion of the population without viable means of support [1]. This call for intervention comes as companies continue to integrate large language models into professional workflows across various sectors [3].
“"The AI era will be one of the most turbulent times in human history."”
The proposal to tax AI tokens and robots shifts the debate from AI ethics to AI economics. By suggesting 'Human Reserved' designations, Gates is advocating for a managed economy approach to technology, where market efficiency is intentionally slowed or taxed to maintain social stability. This suggests a belief that the market cannot self-correct fast enough to prevent mass unemployment.
