Bill Gates says robots should pay FICA taxes when they replace human workers

Bill Gates has renewed his call to tax robots at the same FICA rate as human workers — 7.65% (6.2% Social Security, 1.45% Medicare) plus a matching employer share. He argues automation erodes tax revenue, and robot levies could fund retraining and a safety net for displaced workers.

• Gates proposes a unit of labor so humans and robots face the same FICA tax
• FICA rate is 7.65% for employees with a matching employer contribution
• Revenue would fund retraining and safety nets for automation-displaced workers
• About 130,000 AI-related US job losses since January 2025