Gates Proposes 'Human Reserved' Jobs and AI Taxes to Cushion Societal Disruption

In a lengthy blog post, Bill Gates argues that governments are unprepared for the rapid societal changes AI will bring, unlike the gradual adoption of earlier technologies. He suggests designating certain roles as 'Human Reserved'—akin to nature preserves—and implementing taxes on AI tokens and robots to mitigate job losses and income inequality. Gates also notes a significant decline in entry-level positions, making it harder for new graduates to gain experience.

Gates’s proposal draws a direct parallel between ecological preserves and occupational safeguards, arguing that certain roles should be shielded from full automation to preserve human agency and social stability. He contrasts the gradual integration of computers and the internet—which allowed decades of adaptation—with AI’s immediate, widespread availability, leaving little time for retraining or policy response. He specifically highlights the collapse of entry-level positions, which he says blocks new graduates from building foundational skills, and warns that older workers in fields like construction lack viable pathways to pivot into growing sectors such as healthcare. His tax ideas—levied on AI tokens and robots—are framed as a way to offset the loss of individual income tax revenue as human employment shrinks.