Elon Musk jokingly says AI could potentially win the US Presidential election in 2032 while at the “Oscars of Science” ceremony
“Who do you think will win the White House in 2032? Which type of AI? Transformers or Infusion?” says Elon Musk.
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What you need to know
Elon Musk recently appeared at the 10th annual Breakthrough Prize Ceremony (Oscars of Science) held in Los Angeles, where he shared some of his insights regarding AI and its advancements.
While on the red carpet during the award ceremony, a Youtuber reached out to Musk and asked him what was the greatest breakthrough he was hoping for in this lifetime. Musk indicated that making life multi-planetary would be impressive (viaTESLARATI).
Additionally, he mentioned the possibility ofgenerative AI becoming smarter than humans, ultimately making any invention possible. However, he warned there’s a slight chance AI would lead to the end of humanity. Interestingly, Musk had previously shared the same sentiments but indicatedthe technology should be explored despite inevitable doom.
Musk further indicated the importance of ensuring that AI is truthful and curious enough during the training process. He pointed out the importance of AI being honest, regardless of whether whatever it says is unpopular. This way, it’ll be able to “foster humanity.”
The billionaire used Galileo Galilei’s astronomical findings as the basis for his argument. He recapped the events leading up to and after Galileo indicated that the Earth revolves around the sun. Musk further stated that the astronomer was branded a ‘heretic’ and forced to recant his findings with execution threats.
Musk says if AI was present and being trained at the time, it would’ve said that the sun revolves around the Earth because that’s what everyone believed. He added that the technology wouldn’t have told the truth despite knowing the Earth revolves around the sun. He concluded the interview by stating there’s no AI capable of telling the truth yet, especially if unpopular among people.
AI for president in 2032?!
While speaking to Variety, Musk jokingly indicated that AI could win the Presidential election in 2032 when asked about the forthcoming election.
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Who will win the U.S. presidential election in 2024? Elon Musk weighs in from the carpet at the Breakthrough Prize ceremony. pic.twitter.com/qnw8k5jHVyApril 14, 2024
AI-powered chatbots likeMicrosoft Copilothave been spottedgenerating false information regarding elections. Microsoft has already highlighted itsplan to protect the impending election’s integrity from AI deepfakes. It also intends toempower voters with authoritative and factual election newsvia its AI-powered search engine,Bing.
The billionaire has previously shared a couple of theories regarding generative AI. He recently indicatedwe’re on the verge of the “biggest technology revolution” with AI. However, the lack of sufficient electricity to power might deter this dream from becoming a reality by 2025.
Musk’s claims align with a study that revealedChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot would have consumed enough electricity to power a small country for a whole year by 2027. We already know generative AI is resource-hungry and evendemands one water bottle for cooling per query.
Kevin Okemwa is a seasoned tech journalist based in Nairobi, Kenya with lots of experience covering the latest trends and developments in the industry at Windows Central. With a passion for innovation and a keen eye for detail, he has written for leading publications such as OnMSFT, MakeUseOf, and Windows Report, providing insightful analysis and breaking news on everything revolving around the Microsoft ecosystem. You’ll also catch him occasionally contributing at iMore about Apple and AI. While AFK and not busy following the ever-emerging trends in tech, you can find him exploring the world or listening to music.
