'Star Trek' or 'Terminator': Elon Musk's 'robot' prediction and AI warning

Elon Musk has projected a future where humanoid robots become the new normal, while simultaneously cautioned about the potential dangers of unchecked artificial intelligence (AI). Speaking at the US-Saudi Investment Forum in Riyadh on May 13, he referenced two films as examples of societies deeply integrated with robotic technology.Musk asserted that the widespread adoption of humanoid robots would lead to a significant economic transformation, ultimately resulting in "universal high income." He envisioned a future where tens of billions of personal robots, akin to the "Star Wars" characters C-3PO and R2-D2, become commonplace."Everyone will want their personal robot," Musk stated, as per Business Insider. He argued that the increased productivity resulting from such widespread automation would create an abundance of goods and services, eliminating scarcity.However, Musk also expressed concerns regarding the potential negative consequences of AI development. "You can have a James Cameron sort of movie — you know, 'Terminator.' We don't want that one," he said, emphasising the importance of responsible AI development to ensure a "Star Trek" style future, rather than a dystopian one. Musk highlighted Tesla’s Optimus robot as a key component of this vision, reiterating his prior claim that it could become "the biggest product ever of any kind." He reiterated Tesla’s intention to produce one million robots annually, while acknowledging the existing technical and geopolitical challenges. Musk previously estimated a 20% risk of "human annihilation" from AI during an appearance on the All-In podcast.In addition to humanoid robots, Musk discussed the future of autonomous vehicles, specifically Tesla's robotaxis, and his desire to introduce them to Saudi Arabia. "You can think of future cars as being robots on four wheels," he said.