Bill Gates warns AI is powerful enough to cause "a billion deaths"

Bill Gates will warn on this weekend's "Meet the Press" that he can see a future where AI wipes out humanity.

Why it matters: Gates, one of technology's leading optimists, has increasingly sounded the alarm on AI dangers. His new comments come as techology leaders and the government weight how to handle fears of an AI-created doomsday.

Driving the news: "AI is certainly powerful enough to drive events that, you know, cause a billion deaths," he will tell Kristen Welker on "Meet the Press" on Sunday, per excerpts NBC released Friday.

• "Even though it's pretty hard to get to 100%, there's never been a weapon as powerful as the combination of people with ill intent using the latest AI tools."

Zoom out: Gates released a memo in August that defined AI as a technology more consequential than virtually any other in history.

• In the essay, he argued that "AI will either be the greatest equalizer ever invented, or the worst source of injustice."
• "On the current course and speed, there's a very high chance of a net negative outcome," he said.

What's next: Gates says that government and political parties need to work together now to find ways to keep AI from spiraling out of control.