Why we need ‘Human Reserved’ jobs, says Bill Gates—and how we can combat the worst of the AI upheaval

Bill Gates urgently called for the world to address risks associated with artificial intelligence. "AI will either be the greatest equalizer ever invented, or the worst source of injustice," the billionaire co-founder of Microsoft wrote in a 6,000-word memo published Wednesday.

He shared some thoughts on how to combat the worst — and I think he has a point.

My father had dementia. Near the end, he literally forgot how to swallow. My mother was bedridden after a stroke left her without the use of the right side of her body. Hiring 24-hour caregivers allowed my sister and me to keep them in their home until they passed.

Could AI have helped care for them? I suppose so. My mother might have enjoyed "talking" to an AI friend app. AI-supported remote monitoring might have streamlined their medical care. But no AI system, no matter how advanced, could have replaced the wonderful people who took care of my parents.

Bill Gates agrees. His father received 24/7 care before he died of Alzheimer's in 2020, he wrote in the essay published on his personal website. "Something in the care they gave my dad was irreplaceably human," he wrote. "No robot could or should have done it."

That's why Gates sees caregiving, along with other jobs that only people should do, as "Human Reserved." He proposes a "token tax" that would make it more expensive for a company to replace employees with AI tools or agents and provide funds to help people who do lose their jobs.

Who gets to decide which jobs are "Human Reserved"? It's a good question that Gates admits he can't fully answer. There are economic repercussions; sure, robots could build houses, but what happens to all the skilled carpenters? AI can improve education, and the efficiency of delivering information, but can it replace a caring, motivating, empathetic teacher? 

According to Gates, technological capability shouldn't automatically determine what society chooses to automate. In simple terms, just because we can, doesn't mean we should.

Here are three other takeaways from Gates' essay about what's coming next — and what we should do about it. 

Disruption will occur at an unprecedented rate. Take the PC. A "computer in every home" fundamentally changed our professional and personal lives, but that shift took place over decades. Software had to be developed. Costs needed to come down. It took time for people and organizations to learn how to use new tools effectively. Because AI can spread through devices and systems already in use, Gates expects disruption to happen much faster than earlier transitions, eliminating many entry- and mid-level jobs before we can adjust to new realities. The question isn't whether AI is "good" or "bad." The question is who benefits, and who suffers. Gates is optimistic about AI's potential impact on healthcare, education, agriculture, scientific research, government services, small businesses, and more. His concern is that people and countries that already have money and power will benefit, while vulnerable communities and displaced workers will bear the cost. Answering the challenging questions about how we can protect against harms and prevent injustice "should be the world's top priority," according to Gates. Because "if the world takes the right steps, AI will be a force for good and leave everyone better off."Governments need to intervene now, rather than wait for the market to sort it out. Gates lays out three crucial steps: Create new national and international institutions specifically to manage the AI transition. Establish the aforementioned "Human Reserved" positions so machines don't replace people simply because it's possible. And change the tax system so companies aren't economically rewarded for replacing workers with AI and robots 

In all, Gates sees the odds of a net negative outcome resulting from the AI technology transition as "very high." You likely agree if your job is in sales, customer support, software engineering, or any other field where AI could replace some or most of your daily functions, especially if AI develops to the point where it can produce error-free work. Gates predicts fields like medicine, law, middle management, and even manufacturing will face significant disruption within the next decade. 

I worry about my grandkids, as robots increasingly take on entry-level functions. It's hard to move up the ladder when there is no bottom step to help you get on that ladder. 

That's why "this unprecedented technology demands an unprecedented global response," wrote Gates, who said he wants to develop a domestic and international framework for dealing with AI.

The task is "monumental," Gates wrote, and the solutions should be developed through a public democratic process that includes elected officials, policymakers, educators, health workers, local officials, and community leaders.

As with most things, easier said than done.

Jeff Haden is a leadership expert, speaker and author of the bestselling book "The Motivation Myth: How Achievers Really Set Themselves Up to Win."

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