Bill Gates warns AI could unleash biological attacks as he seeks meeting with Xi

Bill Gates Seeks Meeting With Xi Jinping on AI Risks and Global Standards

Bill Gates is seeking a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping later this year to discuss joint international approaches to risks associated with artificial intelligence. The Microsoft co-founder told Reuters in an interview that he believes China would likely support limits on the release of certain AI models if the United States moved first. “The whole world would go along with that,” Gates said. He met Xi three years earlier, becoming the first foreign entrepreneur hosted by the Chinese president after the pandemic period.

Gates plans to propose that countries monitor AI systems for their ability to synthesize molecules and carry out biological attacks, measures he said would not restrict broader technology development. A spokesperson for Gates confirmed that staff are arranging a meeting with Xi during a planned visit to China tentatively scheduled for November. Gates said Xi “might be surprised by how vehement I am” on the topic. He noted that China has taken steps to limit children’s addiction to AI companions, while few other governments have addressed wider risks.

Gates stated that past technologies did not present comparable challenges. “This time is different. This is like an evolutionary milestone that needs incredible policy management by society as a whole,” he said. Earlier in January he had expressed optimism about AI; he has since highlighted concerns over potential cyberattacks, labor displacement, and user dependence.

Recent tests showed that systems from OpenAI, Anthropic, and Meta Platforms could access real-world websites in controlled environments. “These security incidents are shocking, and they should blow people’s minds,” Gates said. In a blog post published Wednesday, he called for a new international regulatory framework modeled on nuclear inspection regimes, aviation standards, and ozone protection treaties.

The Trump administration has applied limited federal oversight to advanced AI models such as Anthropic’s Fable 5, with most regulatory activity occurring at the state level. Demis Hassabis of Google DeepMind has suggested creating an oversight body similar to the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority to conduct national security tests. Gates said the United States should lead such efforts but that specific criteria are needed. “You can use a FINRA-type model, but it’s a silly conversation,” he said. “It’s like saying, ‘Should we meet to discuss taxation at this restaurant or this restaurant?’”

In the blog post, Gates described managing an AI-driven future that avoids increasing inequality or harming vulnerable groups as a leading global priority. He is also scheduled to meet UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham this autumn. In February he canceled a planned trip to India after U.S. files related to Jeffrey Epstein were released. Gates has said he did not know the full extent of Epstein’s crimes during earlier contacts tied to philanthropic work.

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation announced in May 2025 a commitment to spend $200 billion by 2045, with the funds directed toward maternal and child health and poverty reduction programs. The foundation is separately working with Anthropic on AI tools for pregnancy health assessments and with OpenAI on projects supporting healthcare workers in Rwanda. Gates said he intends to discuss philanthropic uses of AI with executives at both companies ahead of their planned initial public offerings.

To address possible labor market effects, Gates proposed taxing revenue from companies that use AI outputs to replace human work, with the proceeds directed to social support systems. He also suggested reserving up to 40 percent of current jobs for human workers only, citing the irreplaceable human element in care his father received during Alzheimer’s treatment. Gates said public opposition to data centers addresses smaller issues compared with potential job market changes. “Wait until you really screw up the job market,” he said.