Bill Gates' trademark optimism appears to be tinged with caution this year. In his annual letter posted to his website, Gates Notes, he warned that global aid cuts and unchecked AI could derail progress in some areas, leaving footnotes on what was once a hopeful outlook.
The philanthropist's concerns are largely centered around the reversal of child mortality rates, which saw a 25-year high in 2025. Over the past two decades, deaths among children under the age of five have declined by more than half; however, last year, this figure climbed to 4.8 million, marking a disturbing trend.
Gates attributes the increase to aid cuts from wealthy nations such as the U.S., which he argues is linked to a warning that an additional 12 million children could die by 2045 if global health funding continues to fall by roughly 20 percent.
To address this issue, Gates plans to spend much of his year advocating for increased global aid through engagement with healthcare workers, religious groups, and community leaders. He emphasizes the need for budget growth as "critical" in reversing this trend.
However, while pushing for more aid, Gates also recognizes the potential benefits of AI in advancing global solutions and reducing inequality. In climate change, AI could provide impoverished farmers with expert advice on weather patterns, crop disease, and soil health. The Gates Foundation has pledged $1.4 billion to this area.
Gates acknowledges that AI could accelerate medical innovations and personalize education through its widespread use. Nevertheless, he remains deeply concerned about the risks associated with A.I., including its potential misuse by bad actors. He warns that a non-governmental group using AI to design a bioterrorism weapon is an alarming threat today.
Moreover, Gates expressed concern about job disruption tied to A.I.'s rise, particularly in software development, warehouse work, and phone-based support roles. He argues that governments must begin preparing with policies addressing wealth distribution and the evolving role of work in society over the next five years.
Despite his tempered optimism, Gates concludes on a note of guarded hope. While acknowledging last year's challenges, he reiterates his faith in humanity's ability to address challenges, prepare for them, and act collectively towards the greater good. He is convinced that within the next decade, we will not only get the world back on track but also enter an era of unprecedented progress.
The philanthropist's concerns are largely centered around the reversal of child mortality rates, which saw a 25-year high in 2025. Over the past two decades, deaths among children under the age of five have declined by more than half; however, last year, this figure climbed to 4.8 million, marking a disturbing trend.
Gates attributes the increase to aid cuts from wealthy nations such as the U.S., which he argues is linked to a warning that an additional 12 million children could die by 2045 if global health funding continues to fall by roughly 20 percent.
To address this issue, Gates plans to spend much of his year advocating for increased global aid through engagement with healthcare workers, religious groups, and community leaders. He emphasizes the need for budget growth as "critical" in reversing this trend.
However, while pushing for more aid, Gates also recognizes the potential benefits of AI in advancing global solutions and reducing inequality. In climate change, AI could provide impoverished farmers with expert advice on weather patterns, crop disease, and soil health. The Gates Foundation has pledged $1.4 billion to this area.
Gates acknowledges that AI could accelerate medical innovations and personalize education through its widespread use. Nevertheless, he remains deeply concerned about the risks associated with A.I., including its potential misuse by bad actors. He warns that a non-governmental group using AI to design a bioterrorism weapon is an alarming threat today.
Moreover, Gates expressed concern about job disruption tied to A.I.'s rise, particularly in software development, warehouse work, and phone-based support roles. He argues that governments must begin preparing with policies addressing wealth distribution and the evolving role of work in society over the next five years.
Despite his tempered optimism, Gates concludes on a note of guarded hope. While acknowledging last year's challenges, he reiterates his faith in humanity's ability to address challenges, prepare for them, and act collectively towards the greater good. He is convinced that within the next decade, we will not only get the world back on track but also enter an era of unprecedented progress.
, but honestly i think its a good thing he's being cautious about AI and global aid 
, we need more people thinking critically about how our actions impact the world 
. I'm glad he's investing in AI for climate change solutions tho 
, can you imagine if we could help those farmers out with all that data 
? at the same time though i worry about him being too focused on tech fixes instead of policy changes 
, like he says governments gotta step up their game and address wealth distribution 
. anyway i still believe in humanity's potential to make a difference 
, it's just gonna take some hard work and compromise from all sides 
IT'S LIKE WE'RE TAKING A STEP BACKWARDS AFTER ALL THOSE PROGRESS WE MADE OVER THE PAST 2 DECADES!!! 
I FEEL BAD FOR ALL THE FAMILIES WHO ARE SUFFERING AND DON'T KNOW WHERE TO TURN. BILL GATES IS RIGHT, WE NEED MORE GLOBAL AID AND SUPPORT TO HELP THESE CHILDREN SURVIVE. 
. I mean, 4.8 million kids dying last year? That's a huge number 
. But at the same time, I get what he's saying about AI - it could be a game changer for healthcare and climate change 
. It's like, we need to be careful here 
. And what Gates is saying makes sense - governments do need to step up and prepare policies for this new world 
. It's not an easy problem to solve, but I have faith that humans can figure it out 
.
.
. It could make a huge difference, but at the same time, we have to be careful about how we develop and use this tech. Bad actors can exploit it for nefarious purposes, which is super scary 
. On one hand, it's amazing what it can do for humanity - personalized education and medical breakthroughs are game-changers 
. But, like Gates said, there's a dark side to it too 
. What if AI falls into the wrong hands? Bioterrorism is a real threat now 
. And then there's job disruption... warehouses, software dev, phone support roles - who's gonna fill those seats when machines take over? 
It's like Gates said, we gotta get our act together and prep for this stuff 
️. But still, I'm optimistic about humanity's potential to shape AI for good 
.