Elon Musk recently called AI “one of history’s most disruptive forces” during a chat with UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.
This conversation, part of the UK’s first AI Safety Summit, explored AI’s risks and potential. Musk believes AI will likely be beneficial, but he acknowledges a non-zero risk of negative outcomes.
The two discussed these themes on stage at London’s Lancaster House, a venue known for diplomatic gatherings. Their conversation was later streamed on Musk’s social media platform, X, previously known as Twitter.
Musk was a key figure at the summit, held primarily at Bletchley Park, the World War II codebreaking hub. US Vice President Kamala Harris, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, and other global tech leaders joined him, along with Chinese officials.
Musk praised the summit’s significance and shared his AI visions, including a jobless future and AI as a top-tier companion. Sunak, in his first year as PM, has stabilized British politics despite his elite background and previous finance career.
On the summit’s first day, over 25 countries and the EU signed the Bletchley Declaration. This pact aims for a unified approach to AI, focusing on human-centric, responsible deployment while acknowledging its potential harms.
Musk’s dialogue with Sunak is part of his growing global influence. He’s recently interacted with several world leaders, discussing AI and other issues.
These meetings have included talks with Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu, French President Emmanuel Macron, and other high-profile figures.
Musk emphasized the importance of AI alignment between major powers like the US and UK and suggested China’s involvement in safety talks. He likened AI to a magic genie, warning that such fairy tales often end poorly.
Musk’s role in international affairs extends beyond these discussions, highlighted by his actions with SpaceX’s Starlink services in conflict zones.
At the summit, Musk and Sunak examined AI’s societal impact and the need for regulation, similar to aviation and automotive industries.
Musk supports most regulations and sees AI ushering in an “age of abundance,” potentially eliminating the need for jobs and providing universal income.
He imagines a world where AI assists in education and companionship, even for people like his son who faces learning and social challenges.
Future AI safety summits are planned for Korea and France in 2024, continuing these crucial global discussions.
