Microsoft founder Bill Gates has presented an ambitious concept that could redefine the approach to automation in the global economy. In his recent analytical memo, he proposes deliberately restricting the deployment of artificial intelligence in a number of professional fields, as well as introducing a fundamentally new taxation system for technology giants. The discussion centers on creating so-called "AI-free zones"—a list of activities where human labor will remain a priority, despite the technical feasibility of automating it.
The Human Reserved Concept: What It Means
Gates proposes reserving certain roles for humans, which he compares to natural reserves. This is not a matter of technological impossibility, but a deliberate ethical and social choice. The most striking example is elderly care and delivering difficult diagnoses. Even if a robot is capable of performing these functions, delegating such tasks to machines, in the expert's view, is unacceptable. In education and psychiatry, a hybrid model is likely to emerge, where AI becomes a tool to expand a specialist's capabilities but does not replace them.
Interestingly, Gates acknowledges that in a strict scenario, up to 40% of jobs could fall under such protection. However, he honestly admits the lack of clear selection criteria and difficulties with oversight amid international competition. According to his forecasts, office professions will be hit first, and by the end of the decade, robots will begin to seriously compete with humans in construction and the hospitality industry.
Fiscal Revolution: Tax on Tokens and Robots
The second key block of proposals is tax system reform. Gates highlights an imbalance: when hiring a person, an employer pays social contributions, while purchasing a robot or using AI tokens is effectively not subject to similar burdens. He proposes introducing a tax on the units of data processed by neural networks and on robotic equipment. These funds should go toward retraining workers and supporting regions most affected by automation. At the same time, it is important that the tax does not hinder AI development in medicine and education, where it lowers the cost of services.
International Security Architecture
Gates insists that the current system of governance is not ready for the scale of change. AI is penetrating all spheres—from elections to national security—so coordination at the level of entire agencies is required. He proposes creating an international organization modeled on structures regulating nuclear energy or aviation. He names U.S.-China cooperation as a key condition, as the two countries must develop common norms before technological rivalry escalates.
The expert emphasizes that the current era is more unstable than previous technological revolutions due to the speed of adoption and the ability of neural networks to replace cognitive labor. Among the main risks are job loss, cyberattacks, biothreats, and the impact of AI companions on children's socialization. However, he remains optimistic: the technology's potential in science and medicine is enormous. The main task is to prevent the concentration of benefits in the hands of a narrow group of capital and instead distribute them evenly.
My view: Gates's proposal is a timely signal that the labor market faces a tectonic shift for which neither governments nor businesses are yet prepared. The idea of a tax on AI tokens looks logical, but its implementation would require unprecedented international coordination, which, in the current geopolitical climate, appears to be an extremely challenging task.