Bill Gates Warns of AI-Powered Cyberattacks, Predicts ‘Negative Surprises’ in 2027

 

Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates has warned that artificial intelligence could fuel a surge in cyberattacks in 2027, cautioning that malicious actors could exploit advanced AI systems when safety safeguards are removed.

Speaking in an interview with ABC News on Sunday, Gates said cyberattacks were likely to be among the most significant AI-related threats in the coming year.

“The front that we’ll probably see most dramatically in the next year is cyberattacks,” he said.

Gates stressed that the immediate danger was not necessarily AI becoming uncontrollable, but people using the technology for harmful purposes without adequate restrictions.

He warned that advanced AI models could be exploited for cybercrime and bioterrorism if safeguards were removed, calling for stronger measures to prevent malicious use.

The billionaire philanthropist also criticised the idea that AI companies should be left to regulate themselves, arguing that existing oversight was insufficient for a technology with potentially serious consequences.

Gates had previously warned that the world was inadequately prepared for the disruption AI could bring, particularly to employment.

His latest comments add to growing concerns among technology leaders about the cybersecurity risks associated with increasingly powerful AI systems.