- Elon Musk revealed that SpaceX “principally makes use of no AI.”
- The SpaceX CEO mentioned that though he is open to utilizing it, he hasn’t discovered a use for it but.
- “There’s nonetheless a protracted option to go,” he mentioned.
Elon Musk will not be planning on recreating “2001: A Area Odyssey” anytime quickly.
Musk, who answered questions throughout twenty seventh annual Milken Institute World Convention on Monday, spent a large portion of his speak extolling the advantages of synthetic intelligence. At one level, he mentioned a “truth-seeking” AI may “foster human civilization” when requested concerning the position the expertise would play in human’s on a regular basis lives.
However when requested whether or not AI may “speed up” his efforts in house exploration, he appeared much less excited concerning the expertise.
“Can AI speed up your efforts in house? How do you see it serving to you in what you are attempting to realize?” financier Michael Milken, who moderated the speak, requested.
“I imply, oddly sufficient, one of many areas the place there’s nearly no AI used is house exploration,” Musk replied. “So SpaceX makes use of principally no AI, Starlink doesn’t use AI. I am not towards utilizing it. We’ve not seen a use for it.”
Musk continued, saying that he is been testing improved AI language fashions by asking them questions on house — and the outcomes have been disappointing.
“With any given variant of or enhancements in AI, I imply, I am going to ask it questions concerning the Fermi paradox, about rocket engine design, about electrochemistry — and to date, the AI has been horrible in any respect these questions,” Musk mentioned, referencing the paradox that asks why we’ve not come throughout alien life regardless of the excessive probability it exists within the universe. “So, there’s nonetheless a protracted option to go.”
Musk remains to be reaching for the AI stars
Although he expressed some skepticism about AI for house exploration, Musk has nonetheless invested closely within the growth of synthetic intelligence by way of his startup firm, xAI, a mission that goals to make use of the tech “to speed up human scientific discovery,” in keeping with its web site. Musk has beforehand predicted AI will outsmart people by the tip of 2026.
At his different firms, AI use is rather more built-in. At X, Musk built-in his AI chatbot Grok — just like ChatGPT — into the social media platform. Musk additionally thought-about utilizing AI to assist summarize information on the positioning.
And at Tesla, Musk hopes to construct a sentient labor robotic known as Optimus — although for his automobiles, he is paused AI growth as a result of he didn’t maintain 25% stake within the firm. The billionaire mentioned it will enable him extra management over the course of AI on the firm.
“If I’ve 25%, it means I’m influential, however might be overridden if twice as many shareholders vote towards me vs for me. At 15% or decrease, the for/towards ratio to override me makes a takeover by doubtful pursuits too simple,” he mentioned on X.
He has additionally expressed wariness about potential dangers to humanity and society that AI may result in, together with the unfold of misinformation and widespread automation of jobs. The tech billionaire additionally believed there was a small likelihood {that a} super-intelligent AI may save humanity — or finish it.
“I feel there’s some likelihood that it’s going to finish humanity. I in all probability agree with Geoff Hinton that it is about 10% or 20% or one thing like that,” Musk mentioned, talking in a “Nice AI Debate” seminar on the four-day Abundance Summit in March.
However, he added we must always take the chance anyway, saying: “I feel that the possible optimistic state of affairs outweighs the unfavourable state of affairs.”
Representatives for Musk and the Milken Institute didn’t instantly reply to requests for remark from Enterprise Insider.
