Bill Gates claims that artificial intelligence could solve the personnel crisis in the fields of education and health. Moreover, he says that we are approaching a world in which early retirement and shorter working weeks will become a reality.
The AI will replace two trades considered “technology resistant” photo: Shutterstock
Bill Gates, co -founder Microsoft, said that the chronic lack of doctors and teachers could soon be by the field of the past, due to the progress in the field of artificial intelligence.
“Artificial intelligence will intervene and will provide medical intelligenceand then there will no longer be a lack of staff“Gates said in the podcast” People by Wtf “, published on Friday.
Gates, known for his involvement in the field of public health, mentioned that countries such as India and some African states continue to face a major deficit of professionals in the medical field. The US is no exception. According to a report by the Association of American Medical Colleges, published last year, the US could have a deficit of up to 86,000 specialist and family doctors by 2036.
“The country needs hundreds of thousands of doctors to ensure an equal level of care for all, including minorities, people without medical insurance or living in rural areas”Explained Michael Dill, director of the labor department of the workforce within the association, in an interview for Business Insider.
The number of doctors specialized in the elderly care is also declining, just when the population ages. Professionals in the medical field warn that this imbalance could lead to a crisis of the quality of the medical act.
To reduce the stress in the medical system, the startups based on artificial intelligence, such as Suki, Zephyr AI and Tennr, have attracted billions of dollars, promising repetitive tasks (such as noting or billing), improving diagnostic accuracy and identifying the right patients for new treatments.
According to the consulting company McKinsey, the generative AI could bring an extra productivity of up to $ 370 billion in health and pharmaceutical.
Education, in the same direction
The educational system does not escape these transformations either. In the US, 86% of K-12 public schools said in 2023 that they have difficulties in hiring teachers for the 2023-2024 school year. About 45% of them said they did not have enough staff.
In the UK, a London high school has started to replace certain teachers with AI instruments, such as Chatgpt, to help students prepare for exams. At David Game College, 20 students use artificial intelligence for one year in basic subjects such as English, mathematics, biology and computer science.
Despite the fears about using the AI copying, several teachers have told Business Insider that they remain optimistic about the potential of this technology to save time and improve the learning process, especially in the context of lack of teachers.
AI also comes for physical workers
Gates warned that not only doctors and teachers will be replaced. The AI will make its presence felt in areas such as production, construction or cleaning in hotels, any activity that requires physical skill and time.
“The hands must be extraordinarily good to do those things. And we’ll get there“He said.
Large technology companies, such as Nvidia, invest massively in humanoid robots capable of performing manual tasks, from handling objects to warehouses to bridge washing. The purpose is to reduce costs and increase efficiency.
Early retirement and shorter work weeks
Gates believes that the near future could bring a redefinition of work.
“You can retire early, you can work less a week“He said.”It will need an almost philosophical rethinking: “Well, how should we spend our time?”“Gates acknowledges that it is not easy to accept:”For those like me, who have lived for almost 70 years in a world of lack, it is difficult to change my mentality. ”
“I don’t have to work“Gates concluded.”I choose to work. Why? Because it’s fun.“
In 1930, economist John Maynard Keynes anticipated that, with technological progress, people will only work 15 hours a week. Almost a century later, most of them at 40 stop.
