- Tech billionaire Elon Musk has predicted that artificial intelligence will eventually mean that no one will have to work.
- He was speaking to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak during an unusual “in conversation” event at the end of this week’s summit on AI.
- The 50-minute interview included a prediction by Mr Musk that the tech will make paid work redundant.
- He also warned of humanoid robots that “can chase you anywhere”.
- The pair talked about how London was a leading hub for the AI industry and how the technology could transform learning.
- The chat took some darker turns too, with Mr. Sunak recognizing the “anxiety” people have about jobs being replaced, and the pair agreeing on the need for a “referee” to keep an eye on the super-computers of the future.
Elon Musk was interviewed by UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak where the technologist owner of social media platform X talked about the potential risks and benefits of advanced forms of Artificial Intelligence.
Elon Musk sat opposite British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on the sidelines of the UK Artificial Intelligence Safety Summit in London where Musk said that in a “future of abundance”, not many people would need to have a job due to the presence of advanced forms of Artificial Intelligence. “There will come a point where no job is needed,” Musk said.
“You can have a job if you want to have a job. But the AI will be able to do everything. I don’t know if that makes people comfortable or uncomfortable. It’s both good and bad. One of the challenges in the future will be how we find meaning in life.”
Furthermore, Musk and Sunak debated the potential risks posed by frontier AI models. Musk advocated for a “referee” and an “off switch” that he said must be built into the models to “throw it into a safe state”.
The duo also discussed the potential benefits of AI, with Musk saying: “One of my sons has trouble making friends and an AI friend would be great for him.” Reflecting on how AI can help individuals trying to learn online, Musk hailed the AI as potentially “the best and most patient tutor”.
Elon Musk ended up ticking every box for the embattled UK Prime Minister who remains unpopular in the country, according to the polls.
Musk praised London as a destination for AI companies and hailed the AI Safety Summit’s purported achievements that the owner of social media platform X, formerly Twitter, himself made fun of hours before the summit was to begin. Musk also backed Sunak’s decision to invite China to the summit, a decision the Conservative Party leader faced flak for from his party colleagues.
“Thank you for inviting them,” Musk said. “Having them here is essential. If they’re not participants, it’s pointless.”
(With inputs from agencies)
