While many lesser mortals are cowering in cellers waiting for their AI overlords to take their jobs, Gates has described AI as humanity's friend.

In response to the question, "What do you think will happen to human civilization with further development in AI technology?" Gates says the rise in artificial intelligence will mean society will be able to do more with less.

"AI is just the latest in technologies that allow us to produce a lot more goods and services with less labor. And overwhelmingly, over the last several hundred years, that has been great for society", explains Gates.

He said we saw the same sort of thing with developments in agriculture.

"We used to all have to go out and farm. We barely got enough food, when the weather was bad people would starve. Now through better seeds, fertilizer, lots of things, most people are not farmers. And so AI will bring us immense new productivity", says Gates.

According to Gates, with increased productivity in some areas, displaced workers could fill gaps that currently exist elsewhere in the labor market — like elder care, teaching and support for special needs children, says Gates.

"This extra productivity is a very very good thing used in an enlightened way", says Gates.

It will mean that we will all be able to work fewer hours, says the billionaire.