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| Elon Musk and an AI brain Source: Tech Times (Creative Commons License). |
Elon Musk is a man with many irons in the fire. While heading an EV and space exploration company, the fabulously wealthy industrialist is also into artificial intelligence or AI.
However, Musk's involvement with AI is fascinating, as he warns about it and, in the same breath, makes advanced products with it.
What are Musk's fears about AI, and what product is the genius making with the tech? Read on to find out more
Is Musk Scared of AI?
Musk has warned whoever cares to listen about AI for almost a decade. In 2014, he commented to CNBC's Closing Bell that he liked to monitor AI's that were being developed.
He referenced movies like The Terminator, implying AI could have disastrous outcomes.
Later in 2017, while speaking to a group of governors in the US, Musk gave another warning about AI,
Robots will be able to do everything better than us. I have exposure to the most cutting-edge AI, and I think people should be really concerned by it.
He felt human existence was at stake as AI-controlled robots became more intelligent and powerful because the machines would outsmart us.
Musk was concerned in particular with DeepMind, an AI company he co-founded. DeepMind would eventually be taken over by Google, yielding Musk a tidy profit.
He said, "Just the nature of the AI that they're building is one that crushes all humans at all games. I mean, it's basically the plotline in 'War Games." DeepMind is known for developing AI systems that can beat humans at games.
However, not every AI expert agrees with Musk. Some accuse him of being a negative distraction to the growth of Artificial Intelligence.
Musk's multiple cautionary messages about AI have not prevented him from developing products based on the technology.
What is Musk Making With AI?
Musk's EV company, Tesla, is working on a robot named Tesla Bot, powered by AI. While some people might have expected his other company, Neuralink to product this type of product, there is a good reason for Tesla making the robot.
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| The possibilities and consequences of AI in the new Tesla Bot. Source: The Detroit News (Creative Commons License). |
The robot, codenamed Optimus, is human-sized, standing on two feet at 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) and weighing 12 lbs (5.44 kg). Its head comprises a visual sensor that allows it to navigate independently, using the same Autopilot tech in Tesla cars. Tesla Bot will handle dangerous, repetitive, and tedious tasks.
Musk is still sticking to his cautious stand on AI, as he said Tesla Bot would be designed to be friendly and easily overpowered by a human.