Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, has recently warned about the potential risks posed by AI on humanity. At the WSJ CEO Council Summit, Musk stated that AI could control humanity, and it’s possible the technology could “eliminate or constrain humanity’s growth”. He stressed that the technology could be a “double-edged sword” and potentially become a “uber-nanny”. He also signed an open letter which called for a six-month pause on advanced AI development, due to the spread of misinformation and potential of automation.
Tesla and SpaceX are two major companies that Musk has invested in; both employ AI technology. Musk suggests that companies such as OpenAI or DeepMind need a competitor to work alongside them. He suggested that a potential competitor could be a collaboration between Tesla, Twitter, and X.AI.
Musk has been in the technology industry for a while. He founded a web software company Zip2 back in 1995 and then went on to found X.com which became PayPal, and now serves as the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX. His investments showcase his concern towards the power of AI and its potential to both save and destroy humanity. Whether AI will control humanity or save it from itself is yet to be seen.
