In a conversation with Rishi Sunak to close out the UK government’s artificial intelligence safety summit, Elon Musk spoke of a world in which work would be unnecessary but also warned of humanoid robots that “can chase you anywhere”.
The British Prime Minister threw softball questions to the X owner during a 50-minute-long interview after the two-day event at Bletchley Park, which was attended by politicians and experts from around the world.
Mr Musk, whom Mr Sunak described as a “brilliant innovator and technologist”, said “there will come a point where no job is needed” and the only reason people will work will be for their own satisfaction.
He described AI as a “a magic genie” that grants you limitless wishes and will usher in an “age of abundance”.
“One of the future challenges will be how do we find meaning in life if you have a magic genie that can do everything you want,” he said.
“We won’t have universal basic income, we’ll have universal high income, so in some sense it will be somewhat of a leveller or an equaliser because really I think everyone will have access to this magic genie.”
Discussing robots, Mr Musk stressed the need of having an off-switch for humanoid versions that can give chase.
“A humanoid robot can basically chase you anywhere,” the tech entrepreneur said in the talk, which was not broadcast live but will be streamed on X later.
“It’s something we should be quite concerned about. If a robot can follow you anywhere, what if they get a software update one day, and they’re not so friendly any more?”
The Prime Minister said “we’ve all watched” movies about robots that end with the machines being switched off.
The AI Safety Summit at Bletchley Park – in pictures
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British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak greets US Vice President Kamala Harris on the second day of the UK's Artificial Intelligence Safety Summit at Bletchley Park. Getty Images -
British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly talks to an attendee. The summit is being attended by industry leaders and government officials. PA -
Mr Sunak speaks with President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen. AFP -
Mr Sunak welcomes Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. PA -
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres with Mr Sunak. Getty Images -
Mr Sunak arrives at Bletchley Park on day two of the summit. EPA -
Michelle Donelan, front centre, UK Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, with international digital ministers at the start of the AI Safety Summit. Getty Images -
King Charles III addresses delegates in a recorded video message. AP -
Ukraine's Deputy Minister for Digital Transformation, Georgii Dubynskyi, speaks to Elon Musk, owner of SpaceX, Tesla and X. Reuters -
Ms Donelan with Omar Al Olama, UAE Minister of State for AI, Digital Economy and Remote Work Applications. AP -
US Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo. Getty Images -
Mr Musk attends the first plenary session of the AI Safety Summit at Bletchley Park. PA -
Ms Donelan greets Georgii Dubynskyi, Ukraine's Deputy Minister for Digital Transformation. PA -
Wu Zhaohui, China's vice minister of science and technology, addresses the AI Safety Summit. Bloomberg -
Bletchley Park, home of Britain's codebreakers during the Second World War, on the first day of the AI Safety Summit. Getty Images
Mr Musk also said the UK “is in a strong position” in developing robots, praising Dyson in particular.
He spoke of the technology’s potential to provide “companionship”, saying it could “know you better than anyone, perhaps even yourself”.
“You will actually have a great friend,” he said and added that one of his sons has “some learning disabilities and has trouble making friends” and “an AI friend would actually be great for him”.
The tech boss supported Mr Sunak’s decision to invite China to his AI summit, saying “if they’re not participants, it’s pointless”.
He also appeared to back the UK’s approach to AI regulation, saying: “If you look at any sports game, there’s always a referee.”
Hours before the conversation with Mr Sunak, Mr Musk posted a picture appearing to criticise the AI safety summit.
The Tesla chief executive shared a cartoon image on his social media platform that appeared to suggest world leaders who attended the gathering were not really concerned about safety but about developing the technology first.
Mr Sunak returned to Whitehall for the conversation with the tech tycoon after wrapping up the two-day gathering held at Bletchley Park, the home of Allied codebreakers during the Second World War.
At a press conference concluding the event, he said the summit would “tip the balance in favour of humanity” after reaching an agreement with technology firms to vet their models before their release.
Asked whether his conversation with Mr Musk would not be live-streamed because Mr Sunak was worried about what the tech entrepreneur might say, the Prime Minister replied: “Elon Musk is someone who has for a long time spoken about AI … I’m delighted that he was attending and participating yesterday.”
