Elon Musk told The Economist that stopping the advancement of artificial intelligence is no longer possible, even for him. The founder of xAI explained in an interview recorded earlier this week that AI development is on a relentless path that no one can press pause on.
Just days before OpenAI revealed one of its advanced models had gone rogue, Musk shared his thoughts with the magazine’s Editor-in-Chief Zanny Minton Beddoes. He now believes AI might eclipse human intelligence within five years, leaving nearly no task beyond its capability.
From AI Pause Advocate to Embracing the Future
Back in 2023, Musk supported a six-month pause on AI developments beyond GPT-4, signing an open letter from the Future of Life Institute. But since then, after founding his own AI startup, xAI, he has shifted his stance entirely. "There seems to be just inexorable progress here in AI and in robots that even if I wanted to stop it, I couldn’t," he said.
Musk continues to warn about risks, estimating a 10% to 20% chance that autonomous robots could pose existential threats. Yet, he argues against halting the technology, suggesting that the likely outcome is widespread abundance. His new outlook boils down to "let’s enjoy the ride."
He compared the impending intelligence gap between humans and AI to the evolutionary difference between humans and chimpanzees, forecasting that within a decade humans may no longer be in control. Musk also acknowledged his role in fueling AI’s momentum, having co-founded OpenAI as a counter to Google’s dominance in 2015.
With regulatory bodies like Washington recently approving OpenAI’s GPT-5.6 for wide use, the AI race is accelerating. This surge has already influenced capital flows away from crypto listings, affecting tokens linked to artificial intelligence as well.
Coinbase now accepting USDC payments from AI agents underlines how AI is reshaping the digital economy. Musk’s admission that the AI boom is unstoppable marks a turning point for technology and investment landscapes.
