Gates made the remarks in an interview with NBC News' "Meet the Press," moderated by Kristen Welker. In the interview, published September 25, 2026, he argued that leaving AI companies to regulate themselves is not sufficient, and that governments must be directly involved in monitoring the technology.
Self-Regulation Is Not Enough
Asked whether technology companies could be trusted to set their own guardrails, Gates was blunt: self-regulation is not enough. He said governments should be involved in monitoring AI development, marking a sharper tone from a figure who was once among the technology's most prominent optimists.
Gates has long been an influential voice on global health and climate policy. He said the potential scale of harm from advanced AI systems demands the same kind of public oversight applied to other high-risk industries, rather than voluntary industry pledges.
A Direct Call for Congress to Act
When asked whether Congress should pass specific legislation on AI, Gates answered: "Absolutely." He urged lawmakers to put binding rules in place, describing government oversight as essential to keeping advanced AI systems safe.
His comments arrive as lawmakers in Washington and regulators around the world weigh how to govern rapidly advancing AI models. Several bills addressing AI safety and transparency have been introduced in the U.S. Congress, though comprehensive federal legislation has yet to pass.
Gates has previously warned that AI could be used to design biological threats, an area he considers among the most acute dangers. On "Meet the Press," he stressed that the risks are no longer hypothetical, but tied to systems already in development.
A Familiar Warning, With New Urgency
Gates is not the first technology leader to warn about existential AI risk, but his framing — quantifying the potential death toll — is among the bluntest yet. His remarks add momentum to a growing coWhether Congress will act on his call remains uncertain. But with AI capabilities advancing quickly and public concern rising, Gates' warning has renewed pressure on policymakers to set clear, enforceable rules for the technology.nsensus that AI governance cannot be
left solely to the companies building the systems.
