Bill Gates says the world is facing a “big war” or another pandemic

While Gates, a father of three, is resolutely optimistic about artificial intelligence and the eradication of deadly diseases like polio, he remains concerned that it could lead to either large-scale war or another pandemic.

He pointed out that there is currently “great unrest” in the world that could trigger “a major war.”

But even if that conflict is avoided, “there will most likely be another pandemic in the next 25 years,” Gates told CNBC. Do it.

The Microsoft co-founder was unimpressed by the global response to the pandemic and said crucial lessons had been ignored.

He criticized America's response to the crisis, saying: “The country that the world expected to lead and serve as a role model has failed to live up to those expectations.”

“Although some of the lessons from [the coronavirus] Pandemic lessons were learned [it’s been] much less than I expected, unfortunately,” added the 69-year-old.

Gates is not alone in his disappointment; many other global health advocates are also urging the Western world to better respond to emerging disease outbreaks.

Professor Paul Hunter is an expert in the epidemiology of emerging diseases and works at the University of East Anglia in Norwich, England.

In conversation with Assets Professor Hunter said last month of a deadly new strain of Mpox: “In the West, we don't really care about a disease until it directly threatens us. The problem is that the spread of so many of these diseases could have been prevented if countries had had the resources on the ground.”

This is a recurring theme that has also become evident during the COVID pandemic, he added: “The West only starts thinking about fighting epidemics when the first cases appear. By then it is almost always too late to eradicate the infection.”

Gates reiterated his hope that health authorities will begin to think more long-term in the coming years, adding: “We need to pool our thoughts on what [we did] So what we didn't do well is still not happening… Maybe in the next five years it will get better.

“But so far it’s been quite surprising.”

This message also comes from the very top: the World Health Organization (WHO).

Earlier this year, the WHO warned of the spread of the influenza virus through cattle, birds and humans and called on countries to work together to be better prepared for a pandemic.

“One thing is certain: there will be another flu pandemic in the future,” said Nicola Lewis, director of the Worldwide Influenza Centre.

Lewis added: “My message to the international community is that we must put aside our reticence. We must put aside our narrow-minded concerns and remember the impact and devastating consequences of a global pandemic, no matter what pathogen causes it.”

World War Fears

Gates – whose fortune is estimated at $157 billion according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index – is not the only influential name warning of potential global conflict.

Jamie Dimon, CEO of JPMorgan Chase, had previously told CNBC partner channel CNBC TV-18 last September that geopolitical tensions were the biggest threat to the global economy: “We've struggled with inflation before, we've struggled with deficits before, we've struggled with recessions before, and we haven't really seen anything like this since World War II,” he told the Indian news channel.

“I think America is taking [Russia’s invasion of Ukraine] “In all seriousness, I'm not quite sure how the rest of the world is reacting. You have a European democratic nation being attacked under the threat of nuclear blackmail. I think that was a good reaction, but it will affect all of our relations until the war is somehow resolved.”