Bill Gates Warns AI Could Spur More Cyberattacks Over Next Year

Bill Gates warned that criminal use of artificial intelligence could lead to more cyberattacks over the next year, including extortion and attempts to move stock or betting markets.

“Over the next year, primarily in the cyber area, we are going to have a lot of negative surprises,” Gates told Jake Tapper in an Oct. 11 interview.

Gates said the nearer-term danger comes from people using AI tools without safeguards. Users can remove protections designed to prevent cyberattacks and bioterrorism, he said. He added that AI operating beyond human control is years away from having a major impact.

Gates also urged governments to build more sophisticated oversight and safety groups, arguing that companies should not be left to police themselves.

The warning came as MI5 Director General Ken McCallum said AI is intensifying competition between cyber attackers and defenders. McCallum said the technology’s potential role in enabling biological weapons has not materialized. MI5 launched an AI Threat Assessment Centre in 2026.

The comments add to recent debate over AI-assisted cyber threats, including a warning from Britain’s AI minister that a similar AI-related cyberattack could happen in Britain. TokenPost has also covered planning for the fallout from potential AI-related cyberattacks.