Axios reports that Bill Gates warned advanced AI could help malicious actors cause casualties on a scale reaching “a billion deaths.” The line describes a worst-case misuse scenario, not a forecast that AI will independently kill that many people. In a related essay, Gates argues that current models can lower barriers to cyberattacks and bioweapon design, while more capable systems could eventually act against human interests. He calls for national coordination, international oversight modeled partly on nuclear inspections and aviation rules, and policies to manage job loss while preserving AI’s potential benefits.