Elon Musk Predicts Robots Will Outnumber Humans
Elon Musk, a long-time critic of the World Economic Forum annual event in Davos, Switzerland, appeared for the first time at the meeting on Thursday, where he predicted that robots will eventually outnumber humans. Musk has previously rejected the event, which features several heads of state, business leaders, and others, including President Trump, French President Emmanuel Macron, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
Musk’s Criticism of Davos
In 2023, Musk criticized Davos for “increasingly becoming an unelected world government that the people never asked for and do not want.” As the richest person in the world with a fortune worth $677 billion, Musk’s opinions carry significant weight. He has led the Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency and is the CEO of electric car maker Tesla and space exploration company SpaceX.
Tesla’s Mission and Robotics
Asked about the goals of his companies, Musk said Tesla’s mission now includes “sustainable prosperity” through the development of robotics. Tesla is currently developing a humanoid robot called Optimus, an automated robotaxi. Musk believes that with robotics and AI, it is possible to achieve “prosperity for all.” He told BlackRock CEO and WEF co-chair Larry Fink that “people often talk about solving global poverty – how can we give everyone a very high standard of living? The only way to achieve this is with AI and robotics.”
A Future with Ubiquitous Robotics
Musk envisions a day when robotics are “ubiquitous,” which he said would spark “an explosion in the global economy.” He predicts that there will be more robots than people, and humanoid robots could help provide elder care in a world where there are not enough young people to care for older citizens.
Optimus Robot Availability
Musk said that Tesla’s Optimus robots currently perform “simple tasks in the factory.” However, he expects that by the end of this year, they will be doing more complex tasks, and by the end of next year, Tesla will be selling humanoid robots to the public. The humanoid robotics market is currently valued at between $2 billion and $3 billion but is expected to grow to at least $40 billion by 2035, possibly even to $200 billion.
Autonomous Driving
Musk also spoke about the future of autonomous driving, stating that “self-driving cars are essentially a solved problem at this point.” Tesla has rolled out robotaxis in some cities and plans to make them widespread in the U.S. by the end of this year. Musk hopes to receive supervised, full approval for autonomous driving in Europe and China soon.
