Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates believes that by 2035, artificial intelligence (AI) will replace many professional jobs—especially those of doctors and teachers. In a recent podcast, he shared that AI could help solve the shortage of experts in these fields by offering affordable and accessible services.
AI Will Make Healthcare and Education More Accessible
Gates said that seeing a doctor or learning from a great teacher is getting expensive and not available to everyone. But in the next decade, AI could provide quality medical advice and education for free. This will especially help countries like India and those in Africa where expert professionals are limited.
AI Could Also Take Over Physical Jobs
Gates predicted that AI and robots will soon do more than just office work. They might take over jobs like factory work, hotel services, construction, farming, and even driving. As AI becomes more advanced, it could handle tasks currently done by millions of people.
AI Is Already Helping Solve Doctor Shortages
Many countries, including the United States, are already facing a shortage of doctors and teachers. A report from the Association of American Medical Colleges says the U.S. might lack up to 86,000 medical professionals by 2036. AI could help fill this gap.
Health-Focused AI Startups Are Growing Fast
Startups like Suki, Jefffer AI, and TNNR have already raised billions of dollars to build health-focused AI tools. These tools can handle billing, write notes, diagnose diseases, and help find the right patients for new treatments. They aim to reduce stress on health workers and improve care quality.
AI Could Boost the Medical Industry by $370 Billion
According to McKinsey & Company, AI could increase productivity in the healthcare and pharmaceutical industry by $370 billion. Gates believes that alongside AI progress, people’s mindset about work and life must also change.
Future Jobs Will Look Very Different
Gates suggests that in the future, traditional ideas about work will change. AI will take over both simple and complex tasks, which may reduce the number of workdays, allow earlier retirements, and give people more free time. He calls this future a “post-labor world.”
A World Without Jobs Needs a New Purpose
In a world where people don’t need jobs to survive, Gates says we must rethink our sense of purpose and productivity. He admits that this change will be hard, but it’s also exciting. AI could make products and services cheaper, but if its benefits are not shared equally, it could lead to more job loss and inequality.
New Policies Needed to Tackle AI Challenges
To manage these changes, Gates suggests introducing universal basic income, shorter working hours, and better wealth distribution. However, he doesn’t believe AI will replace all human work.
Human Skills Will Still Be Valuable
According to Gates, some jobs still need human creativity, emotional intelligence, and problem-solving. Jobs like therapists, artists, caregivers, and even scientists in fields like biology, energy, and coding will still need human experts.
Society Must Watch Out for Misinformation and Power Abuse
Gates also warned about risks like misinformation, AI bias, and control by big tech companies. He believes future generations should be trained to develop human-centered solutions and guide AI in a responsible way.
