Elon Musk Warns of AI Risks, Estimates 20% Chance of Human Extinction
Tech mogul Elon Musk has once again sounded the alarm on the potential dangers of artificial intelligence (AI), estimating a 20% chance of human annihilation due to advanced AI systems. During a recent appearance on the “Joe Rogan Experience” podcast, Musk reiterated his long-standing concerns about AI surpassing human intelligence and posing an existential risk to humanity.
The Tesla and SpaceX CEO predicted that AI would become smarter than all humans combined by 2029 or 2030, a slight adjustment from his previous estimate of 2025. This timeline underscores the rapid advancement of AI technology and the urgency of addressing potential risks.
Musk’s views align with other experts in the field who have expressed similar concerns. Geoffrey Hinton, often referred to as the “godfather of AI,” recently estimated a 10% chance of AI causing human extinction within the next 30 years. Meanwhile, AI researcher Roman Yampolskiy has suggested an even higher probability of AI-related doom.
The billionaire entrepreneur’s involvement in AI development has been both extensive and controversial. Musk co-founded OpenAI in 2015 with the goal of creating a non-profit, open-source AI platform. However, he left the organization after it shifted to a for-profit model and partnered with Microsoft. Recently, Musk filed lawsuits against OpenAI, claiming the company had betrayed its original mission.
Following his departure from OpenAI, Musk developed Grok, a truth-seeking AI, through his new company xAI. The platform is reportedly trained with controversial prompts to explore ethical dilemmas and push the boundaries of AI capabilities.
Looking ahead, Musk envisions two possible outcomes for AI’s future: “super awesome” or “super bad.” He dismisses the possibility of a moderate outcome, emphasizing the transformative potential of AI technology.
As the debate over AI’s risks and benefits continues, Musk’s warnings serve as a reminder of the need for careful consideration and regulation in the rapidly evolving field of artificial intelligence.
