From 2-day workweek to AI taking over most jobs: 5 predictions by Bill Gates about the future of work

Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates is an inspiration to many. The billionaire is known for his innovative and forward thinking, which he often shared in his blogs, books and interviews. Here we compile some of his views on how Artificial Intelligence (AI) can change the way we work and what lies in the near future. Read on to know more:

The need for work-life balance and limited working hours have become hot topics of discussion these days. While some business leaders are advocating 70, 90, and even 120 hours workweek, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates predicts that with most work being AI-driven automated, people would need to work only 2-days per week in the near future. And this could happen as soon as within the next 10 years! Gates' views were originally aired in February in an interview, and they have resurfaced recently, thus sparking debates on the role of AI in redefining employment and people's productivity.

Gates has often advocated the widespread use of AI and how it can shape the future of work and even change it for the better. Speaking on these lines, Gates said at the India Express Adda, "This (AI) is a deeply profound advancement which at some point will change all activities quite a bit... Through AI we'll able to solve unbelievably complex problems today. Not all of them, but a lot of them-- they are already superhumans. But because they are not perfectly reliable, people are hesitating 'Where should we apply these things'. I think if rolled out properly, these things can be used for health and education, etc."

At the same event, Bill Gates also pointed out that with the help of Ai advancement, intelligence can become free for all. Explaining this viewpoint, Gates said, "This (AI) is a deeply profound advancement which at some point will change all activities quite a bit. The revolution that I was a part of was about-- taking computers from being very expensive to being essentially free. When I was young, whenever I heard there was a computer that was available, even at night, I would go and get access to them... They were just so scare. Now, the idea that your personal computers get used only a few hours a day-- it shows how inefficient it is."

He added, "Intelligence is scare, like brilliant doctors, brilliant engineers, even people to make support phone calls, telessales phonecalls-- we see intelligence is scare. And through AI we'll able to solve unbelievably complex problems today. Not all of them, but a lot of them-- they are already superhumans. But because they are not perfectly reliable, people are hesitating 'Where should we apply these things'. I think if rolled out properly, these things can be used for health and education, etc. Whatever the timeline if the capability and reliabiity is perfected, then you're in a world where inventing drugs, writing proposals, making telesales calls-- it's just software! That intelligence will be free. So you go from a shortage of teachers, doctors, to as much doctor expertise as you want."

However, no matter how advanced AI gets, there will be three jobs that will always be safe, Gates believes. Talking about this, Gates said at the Indian Express Adda that despite becoming better and widely used in the future, AI won't be able to replace three professions. These are that of-- coders, biologists, and energy experts. He then elaborated this, and shared that coders will have an important role to play even if AI advances. Instead of replacing biologists, AI can be used for disease diagnosis, DNA analysis, etc. But as AI will lack creativity, it cannot replace biologists in making scientific discoveries. Similarly, AI won't be able to replace energy experts as their field of work is too complex.

"Success today requires the agility and drive to constantly rethink, reinvigorate, react, and reinvent," Bill Gates once said, and rightly so. Industries are always evolving, so if you want your business to thrive, you need to challenge the status quo and continually seek smarter, more effective solutions. A solid plan is just the beginning — true success comes from spotting opportunities early and adapting swiftly to seize them.