Musk sees AI surpassing human intelligence and calls for mutual oversight among developers

Musk assumes that AI systems and robots will take over nearly all digital and physical tasks in the coming years. Human labor would then become "optional." This could generate enormous productivity gains, which he described as the beginning of an "era of incredible abundance." Musk said: "Jeder wird alles haben können, was er sich vorstellen kann."

However, Musk drew a sharp comparison: once AI becomes more intelligent than humans, the gap between the two will be as large as today's gap between humans and chimpanzees. "Es ist schwer vorstellbar, dass der Schimpanse die Kontrolle haben wird," he said. At the same time, he advised against halting the development with an off switch: even if one existed, you should "wahrscheinlich nicht drücken" it. As a guiding principle he formulated: "Lasst uns die Fahrt genießen."

Proposal for Mutual Oversight

To limit the risks, Musk proposed that leading AI developers should mutually review new models for dangers before release. China should also be included in such a process. "Die Konkurrenten können sich gegenseitig zur Ehrlichkeit anhalten," he said. Musk announced that, despite personal differences with OpenAI chief Sam Altman, he would work together. Personal animosities had to take a back seat "zum Wohle der Welt."

Musk also acknowledged that his own efforts to make AI safer had accelerated its development. "Wenn du sie nicht schlagen kannst, schließ dich ihnen an," he said. This insight reflects his turbulent history with OpenAI, which he had once co-founded and against which he recently lost a legal dispute. To foster broad acceptance of the coming upheavals, Musk also raised the idea of a sweeping redistribution of wealth to finance a "universal high income" for everyone.

Mars Visions and SpaceX

The future visions are not new: back in 2016, Musk had announced that SpaceX would bring humans to Mars starting in 2025. That plan has not materialized so far, but Musk remains committed to the goal of making humanity a multiplanetary species. At SpaceX, he holds more than 80 percent of the voting rights, giving him extensive control over corporate decisions.

Political Involvement and Break with Trump

In addition to his technology projects, Musk was at times deeply involved in politics. He briefly led the agency DOGE, which had been created specifically for him to streamline the U.S. state apparatus. Musk supported President Donald Trump until a dispute over Trump's spending bill, the so-called "Big Beautiful Bill," led to a rift. Musk stepped back and acknowledged that he had "etwas zu sehr in die Politik eingemischt." Asked about his role, he said: "Ich habe mich ehrlich gesagt mitreißen lassen."

Musk also stated that he was personally willing to pay "Trillions in taxes." In the interview, he stressed that his donations and influence had helped the Republicans return to the White House. Despite the political break with Trump, Musk remains committed to his goal of actively shaping AI and establishing cooperative oversight over the most powerful models. The business world is now watching closely for concrete steps that may follow from his proposals.