AI could solve global doctor and teacher shortages, says Bill Gates

Bill Gates thinks we’re on the brink of a major AI-powered fix for the chronic shortages of doctors, nurses and teachers around the world. On the “People by WTF” podcast, he laid out his belief that once AI tools reach the right level of intelligence, they’ll step into roles humans simply aren’t available to fill.

He pointed out that places like India and many parts of Africa are already struggling with too few medical professionals—and even here in the U.S., we’re staring down a projected gap of up to 86,000 doctors by 2036, according to the Association of American Medical Colleges.

AI startups in healthcare see big opportunities here—and they're raking in billions in funding. Firms like Suki, Zephyr AI and Tennr have pulled in massive funding rounds to automate billing, scribe patient notes, improve diagnostic accuracy and even flag candidates for new therapies. Consulting firm McKinsey thinks generative AI alone could boost productivity in healthcare and pharmaceuticals by roughly $370 billion.

Schools are feeling the crunch, too. Last year, federal stats showed 86 percent of U.S. K–12 public schools had trouble filling teaching posts, with nearly half running short-handed. Over in London, one high school even piloted ChatGPT to help kids prep for exams in core classes.

But Gates isn’t stopping at white-collar work. He’s convinced that AI-driven machines—think advanced robots for factories, construction sites and hotels—will soon handle physical tasks once only humans could do. Nvidia and others are already pouring cash into humanoid robots that can grip, move and manipulate with human-like dexterity.

All of this could radically alter how we think about jobs, possibly leading to shorter workweeks and earlier retirements. “It’s going to force us to rethink what we do with our time,” Gates admitted, noting that after nearly 70 years in a world that never had enough of everything, adapting won’t be simple.

Gates even brought up economist John Maynard Keynes, who famously predicted back in 1930 that tech advances would eventually shrink our workweeks down to just 15 hours—a dream that hasn’t quite come true, despite huge productivity gains. As for Gates himself, he’s still there by choice, not because he needs to be. “I don’t have to work,” he laughed. “I choose to—because it’s fun.”