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Bill Gates predicts that only three jobs will be safe from being replaced by AI
Bill Gates has long been one of the most influential voices in technology. As the co-founder of Microsoft, he helped launch the personal computing revolution that brought laptops, desktops, and mobile devices into everyday life.
Now, Gates is turning his attention to the next seismic shift in how we work and live. Artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming industries, sparking concerns about job loss and economic change. But Gates believes there are a handful of careers where human expertise will remain essential - at least for the foreseeable future.
In a range of recent public remarks and interviews, Gates has highlighted that many professions could be disrupted as AI tools become more capable. However, he stands by his view that three specific fields will stay in demand because they rely on deep human reasoning, creativity, and problem-solving skills that current AI cannot fully replicate.
Before exploring those professions, Gates also touched on another category of work he thinks will remain safe: athletics. This observation came up during a light-hearted exchange on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. “You know, like baseball. We won’t want to watch computers play baseball,” he said. “So there’ll be some things that we reserve for ourselves, but in terms of making things and moving things, and growing food, over time, those will be basically solved problems.”
Careers Gates says AI can’t replace soon
One of the fields Gates says will be safe from AI is biology. Biologists play a critical role in scientific discovery and understanding life at its most fundamental levels.
Gates believes that biologists play a key role in driving human progress and innovation through creative and intuitive thinking - something AI still struggles to replicate.
While AI can be a powerful tool in data analysis and research, forming hypotheses and making intellectual leaps remain a strength of the human mind.
Another area Gates points to is energy expertise. Energy systems around the world are facing complex and unpredictable challenges from climate change, infrastructure needs, and evolving policy landscapes. AI may crunch data and model scenarios, but human professionals are needed to interpret results, make decisions, and create adaptive strategies.
Programming and software development are also on Gates’ list. Despite advances in AI assisting with code generation and debugging, the core creative problem-solving that goes into software architecture and innovation remains a human skill. As noted in several reports on Gates’ comments, coders will continue to be needed to design, refine, and advance software systems, including the very AI tools reshaping the workforce.
How these predictions fit into the broader AI debate
Gates’ perspective comes as governments, tech leaders, and researchers worldwide debate the societal impact of AI. While many see AI as an opportunity to boost productivity and solve grand challenges, others warn about risks such as job displacement, ethical dilemmas, and governance concerns. Around the world, discussions about AI’s future are prompting calls for new policies and frameworks to protect workers and ensure technology benefits society broadly.
For now, Gates’ view offers a mix of caution and reassurance: many jobs may change or even disappear, but certain careers anchored in human cognition, creativity, and real-world judgment may remain anchored to human hands and minds.