Elon Musk believes artificial intelligence is advancing at such a rapid pace that it could exceed the combined intelligence of humanity within the next five years.

Speaking in a recent interview, the Tesla and xAI chief said AI may soon outperform humans in nearly every intellectual task, while cautioning that people are unlikely to remain fully in control of the technology over the next decade.

Despite repeatedly highlighting the risks associated with advanced AI systems, Musk expressed growing optimism about the technology’s long-term impact. He said AI is more likely to create an era of unprecedented prosperity than widespread harm, provided humanity avoids major geopolitical conflicts. 

According to Musk, future AI systems could unlock extraordinary productivity and abundance, enabling people to access goods and services at levels previously unimaginable. He added that the only quality AI may never replicate completely is the human experience itself.

However, Musk acknowledged that the possibility of losing human oversight remains a serious concern. He compared the potential future relationship between humans and superintelligent AI to that between humans and chimpanzees, suggesting that maintaining complete control over significantly more intelligent systems may become increasingly difficult.

Reflecting on the industry’s evolution, Musk said his early involvement in founding OpenAI was intended to create a counterbalance to Google’s AI ambitions, but those efforts ultimately accelerated the broader race to develop advanced AI. 

Over the past six months, Musk has also continued expanding xAI’s computing capabilities and AI infrastructure, reinforcing his commitment to building frontier AI models while emphasising responsible development. Recent disclosures have highlighted the company’s ongoing investments in large-scale AI systems and computing resources.

To reduce emerging risks, Musk proposed that leading AI developers hold regular meetings and conduct peer reviews of advanced AI models before public deployment. He argued that competitors should evaluate one another’s systems, identify potential safety concerns, and involve governments only when companies fail to address significant risks. 

Musk also reiterated his criticism of OpenAI’s shift toward a for-profit structure under CEO Sam Altman, while praising Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei for prioritising AI safety. Even so, he stressed that personal disagreements should not stand in the way of collaboration when global AI safety is at stake.

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