Robots, Future Economy, and Space: Elon Musk's Dreams and Reality
In a recent interview with The Economist, Elon Musk discussed his vision for a future where AI surpasses human intelligence and money loses its value. However, market volatility and past unfulfilled promises lead many to view his predictions with skepticism.
The figure of Elon Musk is composed of contradictions. This is the main conclusion that emerges from the much-discussed interview he recently gave to Zanny Minton Beddoes, editor of The Economist. The conversation covered topics ranging from his work in government, including the dismantling of the US Agency for International Development, to the promotion of misinformation on X.
A gap emerges between Musk's words and actions: the richest man in the world, who believes that in 10 years money will have no value, is simultaneously launching a money transfer app. He remains a skeptic regarding artificial intelligence despite having become one of the leaders in the field.
Artificial Intelligence: "We have passed the point of no return"
Musk acknowledges that humanity has passed the point of no return regarding AI development. He states, "It is hard to imagine a future where AI does not far exceed human intelligence." He proposes that all AI companies establish a professional coalition, independent of the government, to assess risks before releasing new models to the public.
This proposal integrates into the struggle of tech giants against the US government. Recently, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang published a letter, signed by over 50 organizations, urging the US government not to impose advance restrictions on open AI models, arguing it would undermine the US's ability to lead in the field.
Money: "Money will have no meaning in 2035"
Musk declared that the economy will change so drastically that in a world of abundance produced by robots, humans will not need money. Nobel laureate economist Daron Acemoglu challenged Musk to commit to donating his current wealth to charity by 2036 to prove his conviction. Musk responded that he is about to do something in that direction.
Space and Financial Performance
Despite his dreams of colonizing Mars, SpaceX is costing Musk dearly. Since the company's IPO, Musk's net worth has dropped from a peak of 1.45 trillion dollars to about 700 billion dollars—a 48% decrease. SpaceX shares have fallen by 28%, and Tesla reported Q2 2026 profits 38% lower than market expectations.
Geopolitics and Starlink
Musk continues to influence reality through Starlink, providing connectivity to Ukraine. This influence has prompted Russia and China to discuss an "anti-Starlink alliance." Musk himself calls for pragmatism and a peace agreement, suggesting that Ukraine will not be able to reclaim its territories.
At the end of the interview, Musk compared himself to Cassandra, the Greek mythological figure cursed with the ability to predict the future, only to be ignored. Despite his eloquence, many observers suggest taking his statements with a grain of salt, given his history of unfulfilled promises, such as the decade-long pledge to produce fully autonomous Tesla vehicles.
