Elon Musk and UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak sat down for a conversation at London’s Lancaster House, which turned into more of a “love-in” than an interview. The discussion covered various topics, providing insight into Musk’s views on the future of work and artificial intelligence (AI).
Musk predicted a “future of abundance” thanks to advances in AI models. He expressed the belief that AI will eventually be able to do everything, rendering traditional jobs obsolete. However, he acknowledged that the idea may make people uncomfortable. Sunak, who may find himself out of a job after the upcoming UK election, nervously laughed along with the prediction.
Despite the format intending for Sunak to interview Musk, the Prime Minister seemed more interested in highlighting his own achievements and praising the tech tycoon. He referred to Musk as a “brilliant innovator and technologist” and showered him with compliments throughout the discussion.
Sunak has been fostering a favorable relationship with Big Tech and the AI industry for some time. This event was no exception, as he discussed his pro-tech and pro-investment policies and praised Musk’s ventures, namely Tesla, SpaceX, and X. The British Prime Minister regarded the presence of Musk at this event as a privilege and pleasure.
The mutual admiration continued as Musk praised London as a destination for AI companies and supported Sunak’s decision to invite China to the event despite objections from some members of the UK Conservative Party. Musk emphasized the importance of China’s participation, suggesting that it would be pointless without them.
Musk also delved into the potential future relationship between humans and AI. He predicted that once AI technology becomes advanced enough, humans will cultivate deep friendships with AI. However, when discussing the risks of development, Musk advocated for safeguards such as a built-in “referee” and “off switch” to ensure safety.
Sunak expressed concern about AI-generated misinformation and its impact on future elections. Musk, who has faced similar issues with his own social media platform, assured his commitment to making his platform as accurate and truthful as possible.
Overall, the conversation between Musk and Sunak revealed a mutual admiration and provided insights into Musk’s vision for the future of work and AI, while highlighting Sunak’s pro-tech stance and concerns about AI-related misinformation in upcoming elections.