Bill Gates reveals the one way he refuses to use AI

Bill Gates says he never chats with AI for friendship.

The Microsoft co-founder, 70, appeared on NBC's Meet the Press on Sunday, Sept. 27, where host Kristen Welker asked whether there are situations where he avoids consulting AI. "I'm not using it for my personal relationships," Gates said.

He explained that he doesn't use it for social reassurance. "I'm not like, 'Hey, do you like me? Hey, am I a nice guy?'" he said, adding that he's lucky to have family and friends. "I don't socialise with the AI. It knows I'm a very serious person."

Gates also used the interview to push lawmakers to regulate the technology. "No one thinks self-regulation is enough," he told Welker. He said politicians and law enforcement need to help define safeguards and monitoring, calling it "a required thing" that would add "a little bit of overhead for the industry, but not a dramatic slowing of what they're doing."

The call comes weeks after the CEOs of several major US AI companies reportedly agreed the rapid pace of AI development needs to slow.

Gates has also been vocal about protecting jobs.

In an August 26 essay on Gates Notes, he suggested governments set aside certain work just for people, an idea he calls "Human Reserved." He compared it to nature reserves, "places where we could put buildings and roads, but we choose not to because the loss would be too great."