By Zuleihat Owuiye, Nigeria

Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates has warned that the misuse of artificial intelligence could lead to a rise in cyberattacks in 2027, calling for stronger safeguards to prevent criminals from exploiting the technology.

Gates, speaking in an interview with ABC News on Sunday, said cyberattacks were likely to become one of the most significant threats associated with AI in the coming year.

He stressed that the immediate danger was not necessarily artificial intelligence becoming uncontrollable on its own, but malicious individuals using advanced AI systems without adequate safety restrictions.

“The front that we’ll probably see most dramatically in the next year is cyberattacks,” Gates said.

According to the billionaire technology entrepreneur, the possibility of AI becoming uncontrollable remains a longer-term concern, while the threat posed by people deliberately using the technology for harmful purposes requires more immediate attention.

“The real danger right now is not the AI’s getting out of control. We need to work on that, but that’s years away in terms of the big impact that might have,” he stated.

Gates explained that removing safety measures from powerful AI models could make them more dangerous when placed in the hands of individuals seeking to cause harm.

He warned that unrestricted access to advanced AI capabilities could enable malicious actors to carry out sophisticated cyberattacks and potentially support other serious threats, including bioterrorism.

“It’s really bad people using AI, particularly in AI where you can take out all the safeguards,” he said.

Gates added that stronger restrictions were necessary to prevent people from disabling protective measures and exploiting the latest AI models for criminal activities.

He cautioned that the combination of advanced technology, inadequate safeguards and malicious users could produce unexpected and damaging consequences over the next year, particularly in cybersecurity.

“But right now, you’re allowed to take all those safeguards out. So when you have bad people, no safeguards, and then the latest models, that’s where, over the next year, primarily in the cyber area, we are going to have a lot of negative surprises,” he told ABC News.

The warning comes as governments, technology companies and security experts continue to debate how best to manage the risks associated with rapidly advancing artificial intelligence.

In August, Gates also raised concerns about the world’s preparedness for the widespread changes AI could bring, particularly its potential impact on jobs and employment.

His latest comments add to growing warnings from prominent figures in the technology industry about the need to address the risks of AI alongside its potential benefits.

During Sunday’s interview, Gates also rejected the argument that technology companies should be left to regulate themselves without stronger external oversight.

The position contrasts with the approach advocated by United States President Donald Trump, who has supported allowing AI companies greater freedom to develop the technology with limited government intervention.

Gates argued that relying solely on companies to establish and enforce their own safety standards was insufficient, given the potentially serious consequences of artificial intelligence being misused.

“The idea that for the most dangerous technology humans ever invented, that that’s the final word, that just the companies themselves are the only check that society has…it’s clear we’re not doing enough,” he said.

His comments highlight the growing debate over whether governments should introduce stricter rules to ensure AI developers maintain effective safeguards against cybercrime and other threats.

As AI systems become more powerful and widely accessible, Gates’ warning suggests that cybersecurity protections and stronger oversight will be increasingly important in preventing malicious users from exploiting the technology.