Musk predicts AI will outsmart humans in five years

Elon Musk has warned that artificial intelligence may soon overtake human intelligence on a global scale, saying the technology could outperform the combined brainpower of humanity within five years.

The Tesla and SpaceX chief executive made the comment in a recent interview, describing AI’s rapid rise as a force that is now moving beyond the control of any individual or organisation. He said the technology could eventually do almost everything better than humans, except, in his words, being human.

Musk argued that the most likely outcome of advanced AI is not catastrophe, but a period of extraordinary abundance in which people could access solutions to nearly any material need. He said the world should prepare for a future shaped by increasingly powerful machines, while also recognising the risks that still remain.

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He also admitted that AI still carries danger, including the possibility of harm to humanity, but said he has concluded that the technology’s progress cannot realistically be halted. Instead, he said society must learn to manage its development responsibly and quickly.

According to the reports, Musk wants top AI companies to hold weekly or bi-weekly safety discussions, allowing competitors to examine frontier models and help identify security risks before public deployment. He suggested that rivals may be better placed than governments to check one another’s systems.

His remarks have drawn scepticism from some experts who say current AI systems still fall short of fully matching the depth and complexity of human intelligence. Even so, the speed of recent advances has kept fears and expectations rising across the technology industry.