Regardless of beforehand warning concerning the risks of superior Synthetic Intelligence (AI) and robotics, Tesla Inc. CEO Elon Musk has invested in a number of AI startups following a stark warning from DeepMind‘s co-founder, Demis Hassabis.
What Occurred: In an interview with CNBC in July 2017, Musk had expressed considerations concerning the existential dangers posed by AI to human civilization again in 2017. He had forecasted vital job disruptions, with transportation roles among the many first to be absolutely automated.
Musk, well-versed in superior AI, known as for proactive regulation, warning that ready for critical incidents, like robot-caused hurt, could be too late to behave successfully. “AI is a basic existential danger for human civilization,” cautioned Musk.
Nonetheless, it’s ironic as a result of by 2017, Elon Musk was already an early-stage investor who pumped tens of millions into a number of AI startups like DeepMind, OpenAI, and Vicarious.
A 2023 New York Occasions report reveals that Musk determined to put money into AI companies regardless of his reservations after DeepMind’s co-founder Hassabis advised him in 2012 that Musk’s plans to colonize Mars would work provided that “superintelligent machines” didn’t observe human beings on their journey to the planet.
In line with the publication, “Mr. Musk was speechless” and invested in DeepMind quickly after alongside Peter Thiel, to ‘be nearer’ to the developments of AI.
DeepMind was later acquired by Alphabet Inc.’s GOOG GOOGL Google in 2014 for $500 million, regardless of Musk placing in a bid to purchase it.
In 2014, Elon Musk advised CNBC that his investments are “not from the standpoint of really attempting to make any funding return. I like to only control what is going on on.”
He additionally acknowledged he was cautious of a Terminator-like end result.
Why It Issues: Regardless of his warnings, Musk launched his personal AI startup, xAI, and unveiled its new chatbot, Grok, in March and November 2023, respectively.
In March 2025, he predicted in an interview that AI may outperform people cognitively in a decade. He additionally highlighted the potential for a better lifestyle as a consequence of AI, however cautioned concerning the dangers.
Just lately, Musk praised Google DeepMind’s Veo 3 AI video mannequin, calling it “superior.” This instrument generates high-resolution visuals and sensible audio, demonstrating the fast progress of AI expertise.
Nonetheless, OpenAI’s Sam Altman echoed the sentiment and thought it’s higher to actively take part within the discipline quite than do nothing.
“I sleep higher realizing I can have some affect now,” Altman stated.
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Disclaimer: This content material was partially produced with the assistance of AI instruments and was reviewed and revealed by Benzinga editors.
