Elon Musk at the World Economic Forum: Insights on Peace and Technology
Tech billionaire Elon Musk began his inaugural appearance at the World Economic Forum with a sharp comment directed at US President Donald Trump’s recently announced Board of Peace, which rapidly became a highlight of this year’s Davos event.
During a discussion with World Economic Forum interim co-chair Larry Fink, Musk pointed out that the name of the initiative could be misleading. He mentioned hearing about the establishment of the Peace Summit and contemplated whether it referred to peace or a piece, humorously adding that it sounded like a little piece of Greenland or a little piece of Venezuela.
Musk remarked that all that is desired is peace, eliciting laughter from the crowd.
The Board of Peace, led by Trump, was suggested to oversee the reconstruction of war-affected Gaza, though its mandate extends beyond the occupied Palestinian territory. The documentation shared with invited nations outlines the board as an international organisation focused on fostering stability, restoring lawful governance, and ensuring lasting peace in areas impacted or endangered by conflict.
Musk’s participation indicated a notable change. The world’s wealthiest individual has often criticised the World Economic Forum, calling it elitist and out of touch with real-world issues. However, on Thursday, he took to the Davos platform for a comprehensive dialogue that integrated geopolitics, technology and futurism.
Shifting focus to technology, Musk presented ambitious aspirations for Tesla’s humanoid robot, forecasting that the company could start selling these robots as early as next year. He speculated that humanoid robots could outnumber humans in the future, reshaping labour, productivity and economic enhancement.
Musk contended that breakthroughs in artificial intelligence and robotics would initiate a period of immense abundance. He posited that the rapid pace of AI advancements might soon result in systems surpassing human intelligence, with the possibility of this occurring by the end of this year or the following year.
Furthermore, Musk revisited his enduring passion for space exploration and the colonisation of Mars. When questioned about his aspirations beyond Earth, he humorously stated that when people inquire if he wishes to die on Mars, he responds affirmatively, but clarifies that it should not be in a crash landing.