Bill Gates warned on Sunday that, without proper regulation, [Artificial intelligence](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artificial_intelligence) could fuel a sharp rise in cyber‑attacks within the next twelve months, stressing that the immediate danger comes from malicious actors exploiting current AI tools lacking safeguards.
**What did Gates say about the timing of AI risks?**
Gates told [ABC News](https://abcnews.go.com) the prospect of AI “getting out of control” is still several years away. He emphasized that the most pressing concern now is “bad people” using existing systems that have no protective measures.
**Which threats did he highlight?**
“The front that we’ll probably see most dramatically in the next year is cyberattacks,” Gates said. He added that the combination of unrestricted AI models and hostile users could lead to “a lot of negative surprises” in the cyber domain.
**Why does he doubt self‑regulation?**
Referencing a lengthy August post, Gates argued that relying solely on companies to police the “most dangerous technology humans ever invented” is insufficient. He noted that President Donald Trump has suggested self‑regulation, but Gates believes society is not doing enough.
**What actions does he propose?**
Gates called for tighter restrictions to stop bad actors from removing safeguards, especially in scenarios that could enable bioterrorism or sophisticated cyber‑attacks. He warned that without such measures, the next year could see a surge in AI‑enabled threats.
The Microsoft co‑founder’s remarks echo growing concerns among tech leaders about the rapid deployment of AI tools and the need for robust oversight before the technology’s darker potentials materialise.