Bill Gates shares the 3 ways young people can stay ahead in the AI era

Tod Perry
Thu, 31 Jul 2025 00:11:19 +0000
Artificial intelligence, Class size, Educational opportunities, Opportunities in medicine, Fareed zakaria, Bill gates interview, Gates foundation, Cnn, Zakaria and gates, Bill gates advice, Bill gates on kids, Future of ai, Ai and jobs, Bill gates

We are at the dawn of a new era of artificial intelligence, which brings an incredible number of opportunities in the fields of medicine, robotics, and agriculture. It also has a lot of people worried about the future of the labor market. Whereas previous technological innovations have mostly affected blue-collar jobs, AI is set to make big changes to white-collar careers in the worlds of law, media, and banking.

In the short term, many are worried about the swift changes that are about to affect the economy. In the long term, many worry that the AI revolution may create a world where future generations have limited opportunities. How will people support themselves when the labor force is cut in half?

In a recent interview with CNN's Fareed Zakaria, Bill Gates, Microsoft founder and Chair of the Gates Foundation, shared his perspective on how AI is going to change our lives in the near future. At the end of the interview, Zakaria asked Gates what skills young people should develop to live in a world that will be dominated by AI. Gates highlighted the educational opportunities in AI currently available to young people, while also emphasizing his timeless advice on how to stay ahead in changing times.

- YouTube youtu.be

“You can really learn so much. And, the idea of the tutors that people like Khan Academy are building on, how will [that] get that out? All over the world. And so embracing this [and] tracking it will be very, very important," Gates said. "That doesn't guarantee that we're not going to have a lot of dislocation. But I really haven't changed my ‘Be curious, read and use the latest tools,’ recommendations for young people. Be curious, read, and use the latest tools. In this case, AI.”

Bill Gates' advice for young people in the AI era: “Be curious, read, and use the latest tools. In this case, AI.”

During the conversation, Gates also discussed the fear many have that AI will replace more jobs than it will create. He believes that the increase in production will lead to a greater number of opportunities, which will offset those displaced by AI. “If you get less productive, that's bad. And if you get more productive, that's good. It means you can free up these people to have a smaller class size, or have longer vacations, or help to do more," Gates said.

Kids enjoying learning on laptops in classroom. via Canva/Photos

Gates is right to have some concerns over the future, but he’s right to take it with a grain of salt because people have had to deal with changes in technology since well before the development of the wheel. Whether it’s been the printing press, the combustion engine, or the Internet, those who come up on top during times of incredible change are those who are curious and have a genuine interest in the new technology. Those who prefer doing things the old-fashioned way are bound to be relegated to the past. But artificial intelligence is just getting started, and it’s bound to be a big part of our lives in the future. If you have children, it’s best that they grow up learning about this incredible technology so they have every opportunity to be part of this new frontier.