Bill Gates: Artificial intelligence and gene therapy can save lives

Microsoft founder Bill Gates believes that artificial intelligence and gene therapy are the two technologies with the greatest power to change lives. In a speech at the American Association for the Advancement of Science on February 14, Gates said that artificial intelligence can "understand complex biological systems" and that gene-based tools may have the potential to cure AIDS in the future.

The billionaire philanthropist said on Friday that the potential of artificial intelligence is only now being realized, with computing power doubling every 3.5 months. In addition to improvements in processing data, it also has the ability to "synthesize, analyze, see, gain insights and make predictions in far more dimensions than humans can comprehend."

Gates said the most exciting part about AI is "how it can help us understand complex biological systems and accelerate the discovery of therapies to improve health in the poorest countries."

He said gene editing technology would help with vaccines, diagnostics and treatments at the same time. “[It] has the potential to improve health – not just by treating rare genetic diseases, but also diseases that primarily afflict people in poor countries.”

Gates also touched on the deadly coronavirus, saying the two technologies could be put to immediate use to help with diagnostic testing, treatments and vaccine development.

“Our foundation has committed $100 million to address the new coronavirus because we believe it poses a serious threat to global health,” Gates said. “This money will support efforts to detect, isolate, and treat confirmed cases; help countries in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia take steps to prepare for the pandemic and protect the planet’s most vulnerable citizens; and accelerate the development of vaccines, treatments, and diagnostics.”