Lagatar24 Desk
New York: Billionaire philanthropist Bill Gates has once again raised alarms over two of the world’s most pressing issues: the potential for another pandemic and the threat of war. While Gates has previously voiced concerns about climate change and cyberattacks, he told CNBC that pandemics and global unrest keep him up at night, with the likelihood of another pandemic within the next 25 years being his top concern.
“The current global instability could lead to a major war,” Gates warned. However, even if large-scale conflict is averted, he believes another pandemic is inevitable. His key question is whether the world will be better prepared than it was during the COVID-19 crisis.
Reflecting on the United States’ response to COVID-19, Gates remarked that the country, once seen as a global leader in pandemic preparedness, “fell short of those expectations.” In his 2022 book, How to Prevent the Next Pandemic, he criticized governments worldwide for their lack of readiness during the early stages of the COVID-19 outbreak. Gates also proposed measures such as stronger quarantine protocols, improved disease surveillance, and greater investment in vaccine research and development.
“While some lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic have been learned, it’s been far less than expected,” Gates said. “We still haven’t fully addressed what worked and what didn’t. Perhaps over the next five years, things will improve, but for now, it’s surprising how little progress has been made.”
In addition to his pandemic concerns, Gates has also spoken about the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) and its potential to reshape the world. During a recent interview with CNN, he emphasized that while AI will create new opportunities, there’s no need to fear the technology. His comments came shortly after International Monetary Fund (IMF) chief Kristalina Georgieva warned that AI could impact up to 60% of jobs in developed economies and 40% globally.
