Tech entrepreneur Elon Musk, the owner of Tesla, SpaceX and X, has predicted that artificial intelligence (AI) could soon become more intelligent than humans.
Speaking in a recent interview, Musk said that AI technology may surpass human intelligence within the next three years. He was responding to a video suggesting that AI could outpace human thinking within that timeframe, to which he agreed, stating it was a realistic possibility.
Musk has previously forecast that Artificial General Intelligence could emerge as early as 2026. He has also suggested that by 2029 or 2030, AI systems may exceed the combined intelligence of all humans.
During a conference in April 2024, Musk reiterated his belief that AI will become smarter than humans by the end of the decade, warning that society must remain cautious about its potential risks. He stressed the importance of ensuring that AI systems are trained to be truthful and curious.
At the launch of his AI venture xAI in 2023, Musk stated that more advanced AI models, surpassing human intelligence, could be developed within five to six years.
He has also voiced concerns about the dangers posed by AI. Speaking at an AI safety conference in November 2023, Musk described the technology as a potential threat to humanity, noting that for the first time in history, humans may face a competitor more intelligent than themselves.
“We are not the strongest or fastest species, but we are the smartest,” Musk said. “Now, for the first time, we may encounter something more intelligent than us.”
He added that while it remains uncertain whether such technology can be fully controlled, efforts must be made to guide its development in a direction that benefits humanity.
