Bill Gates Predicts AI Will Make Medical Advice Free & Commonplace, Change Healthcare Fast

During a recent appearance on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon in February 2025, Bill Gates made a bold statement: “The era we’re just starting is that intelligence is rare — a great doctor or a great teacher. With AI, over the next decade, that will become free, commonplace — great medical advice, great tutoring.”

This statement prompted Fallon to ask if humans will be needed, to which Gates responded, “not for most things” and giggled. However, he did point out that “we’ll decide” what AI will do and what humans will do. He made the point that “we won’t want to watch AI playing baseball…there will be some things that we reserve for ourselves.” 

“It’s kind of profound because it solves all of these specific problems like we don’t have enough doctors or mental health professionals. But it brings with it so much change,” he continued. While acknowledging that most humans do feel some level of fear toward AI, he pointed out that,  “It will drive innovation forward.” Gates specifically discussed the advances AI has made in healthcare, “Polio, we’re very close. I’ve spent a lot of time on that. With luck, in the next three or four years, that will become the second disease that’s completely gone.”

Gates also said AI could be a game-changer in countries where access to medical care is limited. AI tools could help people figure out what’s wrong, decide how serious it is, and offer advice on next steps—especially where there’s no clinic in sight.

Still, he admitted AI won’t be perfect. Mistakes will happen. But he added, “Humans make mistakes too. And having no access to medical care is also a problem.”

Gates discussed how the introduction of AI and free intelligence will impact the future of work. He speculated that in the future humans may only work 2-3 days per week. 

Gates also said some roles—like biologists, chefs, and pro athletes—may be harder to replace. As the most trusted profession for the past 23 years, we’d speculate that nurses should be added to that list. AI can offer options, but it can’t hold a hand or catch subtle warning signs from a change in a patient’s tone. Machines might assist, but people will always want a human connection when they’re sick, scared, or vulnerable.

How AI Is Already Changing Nursing

Nurses are already seeing AI show up on the job—and not just in the form of high-tech gadgets. AI is starting to shift the way we make decisions, manage time, and care for patients.

• Better Decision-Making at the Bedside: AI-powered tools are helping nurses sort through labs, vitals, and clinical guidelines faster, offering evidence-based recommendations that support safe patient care.

• More Time for Hands-On Care: By automating repetitive tasks like charting, scheduling, and paperwork, AI gives nurses more time to be with their patients instead of their screens.

• Tailored Care Plans: AI systems can look at a patient’s full history and current condition to suggest personalized care strategies, helping nurses act sooner and smarter.

• Seeing Trouble Coming: Predictive analytics tools flag potential problems—like early signs of sepsis or patient deterioration—before they’re obvious to the eye. That early warning system can be a game-changer.

• Less Admin Headache: Smart systems help manage documentation and improve chart accuracy, cutting down on time spent tracking down missing info.

• Training Gets a Tech Boost: Nursing schools are starting to use AI chatbots for simulations that mimic real patient interactions—giving students a safe place to learn clinical thinking.

• Faster Triage: In some ERs, AI tools like KATE help nurses sort and prioritize patients quickly by analyzing vital signs and risk factors in real time.

There are currently several models of AI robots used within hospitals and healthcare facilities worldwide. A bill was recently introduced to give AI the power to prescribe drugs without human oversight. 

But it’s not all smooth sailing. Nurses have real concerns about how AI is rolled out.

• Mistakes Still Happen: AI isn’t foolproof. Its suggestions still need nurse oversight and clinical judgment to catch errors.

• Who's Responsible?: Legal and ethical questions are still being worked out. If an AI tool gives bad advice, who’s accountable?

• Staffing Worries: Some staffing tools powered by AI may recommend unsafe nurse-to-patient ratios if they focus more on numbers than acuity.

Nurses React To AI Technology 

The conversation surrounding artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare—particularly within the nursing profession—has grown increasingly nuanced in recent years. In a recent episode of the Nurse Converse podcast, Dr. Dan Weberg and Rich Kenny explore the evolving role of AI in clinical settings and highlight ways in which it could potentially support and enhance nursing practice. The episode is titled "Artificial Intelligence in Nursing: Beyond the Buzzwords to Real-World Impact". 

Podcast Episode

>>Listen to "Artificial Intelligence in Nursing: Beyond the Buzzwords to Real-World Impact (With Dan Weberg and Rich G Kenny)"

At the same time, many nurses remain cautious and skeptical about the integration of AI into patient care.

• Across the United States, nurses have organized rallies to protest the use of AI in clinical environments, expressing concern about its implications for safety, quality of care, and professional identity. Their slogan is "trust nurses, not AI."
• Reflecting these concerns, Oregon recently enacted legislation prohibiting AI companies from labeling their technologies with the title “nurse.”

As AI continues to shape the future of healthcare, it is essential that nurses are actively involved in the development, regulation, and implementation of these technologies to ensure they serve as tools for support—not replacement—in patient care.

🤔Nurses, share your thoughts in the discussion forum below.