Bill Gates, long known as one of tech's biggest optimists, is set to warn that he can imagine a future in which artificial intelligence wipes out humanity. He will make the comments on "Meet the Press" this weekend, according to excerpts released by NBC News. Gates has grown more vocal about AI's dangers in recent months. His latest warning lands at a time when both the tech industry and the government are wrestling with how to handle fears of an AI-driven catastrophe. In excerpts NBC released Friday, Gates tells host Kristen Welker that AI is "certainly powerful enough to drive events that, you know, cause a billion deaths." He adds that while reaching absolute certainty is difficult, humanity has never faced a weapon as dangerous as AI tools in the hands of people who mean harm. The full interview airs Sunday. "The challenge is monumental. Even under the best circumstances, the transition to this new AI era will be one of the most turbulent times in human history. How will we use this technology to make the world a fairer place and keep it from widening the divide between rich and poor? How will we protect the people who are most vulnerable to the harms caused by artificial intelligence, including those who lose their livelihoods and the sense that they are in control of their future," Gates wrote, back in August. What Gates wants to happen nextGates is calling for governments and political parties to work together now, rather than later, to find ways to keep AI from spiraling out of control. "Unfortunately, right now we are not preparing for it. I don’t see evidence that leaders, experts, and communities are confronting the challenges adequately. There is no plan to ease the entry into the AI era," Gates stated. Sagar is a journalist with an interest primarily in geopolitics and American domestic politics. Before joining Times Now, he wrote for Republic and Sw... View More