Talking on the World Financial Discussion board in a dialog with BlackRock CEO Larry Fink, Musk mentioned AI is advancing sooner than many anticipate. He predicted that AI might be “smarter than any particular person human this yr,” and turn out to be “smarter than all of humanity mixed” throughout the decade.
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Musk linked that trajectory to the rise of humanoid robots, which he mentioned may dramatically broaden financial output. Tesla’s Optimus robots, he mentioned, are already performing easy duties in factories, with extra superior capabilities anticipated quickly.
“If issues go properly, we anticipate to promote humanoid robots to the general public by the top of subsequent yr,” Musk mentioned, including that security can be essential earlier than any wider rollout.
On autonomous driving, Musk mentioned Tesla’s Full Self-Driving software program has reached a stage the place insurers are providing important reductions to clients utilizing it. He mentioned Tesla is searching for regulatory approval to broaden supervised self-driving in Europe, doubtlessly as early as subsequent month, adopted by China.
“If regulated and supervised, it will likely be widespread,” Musk mentioned.
‘Individuals ask me do I need to die on Mars, and I am like ‘sure, however not on affect’: Musk at WEF 2026
“We would have AI that’s smarter than any human by the top of this yr, and I’d say no later than subsequent yr,” Musk on what AI of the long run would seem like; Elon Musk says at Davos in dialog with Laurence D. Fink, Chair and CEO, BlackRock; Interim Co-Chair, World Financial Discussion board”I’d encourage everybody to be optimistic and excited in regards to the future,” he says.”For high quality of life, it’s really higher to be on the aspect of being an optimist and mistaken moderately than being a pessimist and proper,” he says to laughter.
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Whereas a lot of the dialogue centered on AI’s potential, Musk warned that power — not computing energy — may turn out to be the largest constraint on progress. He mentioned electrical energy technology isn’t scaling quick sufficient to maintain tempo with AI infrastructure, significantly in the USA.
“AI chips are being produced sooner than we will energy them,” Musk mentioned, pointing to photo voltaic power as probably the most viable resolution at scale. He famous that China is deploying photo voltaic capability way more quickly, whereas tariffs and coverage limitations are slowing adoption elsewhere.
Wanting additional forward, Musk mentioned area may finally be the most cost effective place to run large-scale AI programs. Photo voltaic panels in orbit, he mentioned, generate extra power than these on Earth, whereas the chilly vacuum of area gives pure cooling for knowledge centres.
“The bottom-cost place to place AI might be area,” Musk mentioned, predicting that solar-powered AI infrastructure in orbit may emerge throughout the subsequent few years.
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Musk additionally spoke about SpaceX’s efforts to realize full rocket reusability with its Starship car, which he mentioned may scale back the price of entry to area by an element of 100 if profitable.
Requested what continues to inspire him, Musk pointed to curiosity and a want to grasp actuality. When requested whether or not he would personally go to Mars, he replied: “Sure, however simply not on affect.”
