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Three professions Bill Gates believes AI will never replace
Gates argued that the energy industry is another area where AI cannot operate independently
In an age where artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming industries and reshaping the job market, one of the biggest debates is whether AI will replace humans.
Following OpenAI CEO Sam Altman’s remarks on the same subject, recently, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates shared his perspective on this issue, pointing out three professions that, in his view, will remain safe from AI takeover.
Gates highlighted programming, biology, and energy sector careers as fields where human expertise will always be essential.
Programmers
Despite AI’s growing ability to generate code and automate debugging, Gates believes programming will never lose its human core.
He argued that true programming involves solving complex problems, making intuitive decisions, and creating novel solutions, tasks that machines cannot fully replicate.
“Writing code isn’t just about instructions,” Gates stressed, “it’s about innovation and judgment.”
Biology
According to Gates, the other profession that won’t be replaced by AI is biology.
Although AI can analyse vast amounts of scientific data, it struggles with forming hypotheses and applying nuanced reasoning.
“AI lacks the ability to imagine new possibilities,” Gates noted, underscoring how discoveries in biology often depend on creativity and human insight.
According to him, no algorithm can substitute the curiosity-driven approach that pushes biological sciences forward.
Energy sector careers
Gates argued that the energy industry is another area where AI cannot operate independently.
Managing power plants, balancing renewable integration, and making high-stakes decisions during emergencies demand more than predictive analytics.
Gates highlighted that the consequences of errors in this sector are too significant to leave solely to machines.
“While AI analyses trends and forecasts problems, it can’t fully weigh the risks or understand the stakes. I once watched a documentary about energy managers using AI to predict grid overloads, but it was their experience and judgment that made the right calls during critical moments,” Gates emphasised.