Tax the robots! Bill Gates on why even automation should be held to this human requirement – GeekWire

If robots and automation are ultimately going to replace more and moreAmerican jobs, Bill Gates, for one, thinks we shouldnt also lose the income tax generated by human workers.

Tax the robots, the Microsoft co-founder saidin a new interview with Quartz.

Right now, if a human worker does, you know, $50,000 worth of work in a factory, that income is taxed, Gates said. If a robot comes in to do the same thing, youd think that wed tax the robot at a similar level.

Gatess thinking is that, as a society, we should be doing a better job of taking care of the elderly, reducing school classroom size and helping children with special needs. Weve got a jump on the robots in that regard because human empathy and understanding are very unique, Gates said.

The billionairephilanthropist said thereis an immense shortage of people to help out with those things he listed,so he suggests retrainingthe workforce that used to handle what automation has and will replace.

You cant just give up that income tax because thats part of how youve been funding that level of human workers, Gates said, before laughing and adding that he doesnt think the robot companies will be outraged that there might be a tax.

As a man who changed the worldwith what he accomplished at Microsoft, and continues to do so today in healthcare initiatives and more throughhis foundation, Gates is ever the optimist when it comes to future technologies.

It is really bad if people overall have more fear about what innovation is going to do than they have enthusiasm, he said. That means they wont shape it for the positive things it can do.

Read more aboutBill Gatess current views on the state of the world in GeekWires extensive new interview.

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Tax the robots! Bill Gates on why even automation should be held to this human requirement - GeekWire