Many people consider Bill Gates a ‘visionary’ because he often talks about the future as well as the present. Many times, his ideas have turned out to be true, leading to worldwide discussions. Gates recently discussed what he believes will be the next major global conflict. He is now sure: “It won’t involve nuclear weapons.”
Gates thinks that in the future, the main battlefield will be cyberspace, not land, sea, or air. Because digital systems are essential for modern society, including power, healthcare, and banking, a single cyberattack can stop an entire region, as we saw recently in Spain.
According to Gates, artificial intelligence could be a key factor in the new type of warfare. Rather than using bombs and tanks, the weapons will be computer code, algorithms, and harmful AI systems meant to disrupt infrastructure or control large groups of people. According to Gates, these “cyber weapons” are quickly becoming the weapons of choice in war and may be more dangerous than any previous arsenal.
The results are truly significant. An AI-driven cyber war might not be noticed until it’s too late, causing damage to economies, stealing important information, or disrupting societies without any troops involved.
Because of these risks, people are paying attention to what Gates says. There is an increasing number of talks worldwide about forming a global organization to oversee AI warfare and stop digital disasters. As always, Gates’ words remind us: even as warfare changes, it is more important than ever to protect humanity.
