Bill Gates Feels Robots Replacing Humans at Work Should Pay Taxes

The world’s richest man wants taxes applicable on robots that replace humans at various organisation level.

Bill Gates, co-founder, Microsoft. (Photo: Reuters)

We’ve heard how automation might be the end of human-centric jobs, and replacing them with robots will overhaul the way the industry works. Tesla’s Elon Musk has even advised humans to become cyborgs, or else face the reality of losing jobs.

However, Bill Gates, co-founder of Microsoft, feels we shouldn’t rush into making tough calls. And if so, the robots need to be liable for any mistake committed from their end.

Speaking in this candid interview, Gates said that the supposed robot tax can and should be put into place.

Certainly, there will be taxes that relate to automation. Right now, the human worker who does, say $50,000 worth of work in a factory, that income is taxed and you get income tax, social security tax and all those things.

Bill Gates

He also expressed his concern as to how the rise of automation, instead of making them feel they’re part of a revolution, has sparked a fear among everyone.

It is really bad if people, overall, have more fear about what this innovation is going to do rather than be enthusiastic about it. That means they won’t shape it for the positive things it can do.

Bill Gates

Gates feels that instead of relying on businesses to take charge with robots, it should be government’s task to ensure the transition from man-to-machine takes place, wherever required.

If you can take the labour that used to do the things automation replaces, and financially and training-wise and fulfilment-wise have that person go off and do these other things, then you’re net ahead.

Bill Gates

There is also the point of robots being less reliable with human empathy, something that has to be fine tuned into them, mechanically.

You know, all of those are things where human empathy and understanding are still very, very unique.

Bill Gates

Reports highlight that a robot tax was put into motion in the European Parliament that didn’t come through, even though Gates is strongly in favour of such measures.

He believes that taking off man from a job, replacing them with robots, could invariably mean fall in money incurred by the government, and a robot tax could ensure that’s not the case.

(Source: Quartz)