In an interview with Tucker Carlson, Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, discussed his perspectives on artificial intelligence, Starlink, and California Governor Gavin Newsom.
What Happened: During the interview that was posted on X, formerly Twitter, Musk spoke on multiple subjects, including AI and the “woke mind virus,” Starlink’s role in disaster relief amid Hurricane Helene, and California politics under Governor Newsom.
AI: Progress, Perils, And The ‘Woke Mind Virus’
Musk highlighted the rapid advancement of AI, predicting its capability to create full short films by 2025.
He spoke about the need for “truth-seeking” AI to avoid dangerous outcomes, criticizing models like Google Gemini for exhibiting what he termed the “woke mind virus.”
The Tesla CEO also expressed concern over AI’s potential existential risks, estimating a 20% chance of human annihilation while remaining optimistic about its overall benefits.
The tech mogul also voiced distrust in OpenAI and its CEO Sam Altman, lamenting the company’s shift from a nonprofit, open-source model to a profit-driven, closed-source entity.
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Starlink’s Crucial Role In Disaster Relief
Discussing Starlink’s deployment in hurricane-ravaged North Carolina, Musk revealed how the satellite internet service became a vital communication lifeline.
He recounted a regulatory hurdle with the FAA that initially hindered relief efforts but praised Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg for swiftly resolving the issue once it was brought to his attention.
“When I complained about it, he reacted in a very levelheaded way, and he reached out to me, and he called me,” he stated, referring to Buttigieg. “We discussed the issue, got to the bottom of it and he fixed it.”
California Politics: Musk’s Critique Of Newsom’s Policies
Musk didn’t mince words when addressing California’s political landscape under Newsom. He likened the state to “Gotham City under the Joker,” criticizing decriminalization efforts as detrimental to society.
The tech entrepreneur expressed surprise at Newsom’s opposition to a specific decriminalization proposition, while still criticizing the governor’s overall stance.
Musk and Carlson challenged Newsom’s justification that enforcing laws disproportionately affects people of color, calling this reasoning patronizing and counterproductive.
The two also discussed the influence of George Soros and his son, with the Tesla CEO describing them as “anti-civilizational” and harmful to the social fabric.
Why It Matters: During the same interview, Musk also suggested that certain billionaires are backing Democratic nominee Kamala Harris due to their fear of Donald Trump releasing the Epstein Client list.
He also expressed his full support for Trump and voiced his concerns about the potential fallout if the Republican nominee does not win the upcoming election. “My view is that if Trump doesn't win this election, it's the last election we're going to have,” Musk said.
Musk also discussed his potential role in the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) under the new Trump administration.
He stated that the idea behind the DOGE department was to streamline federal spending by overseeing the operations of different agencies.
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Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors
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