
Elon Musk recently clarified his notorious “go f**k yourself” remark, stating it wasn’t directed at all advertisers, only those opposed to the kind of free speech he aims to protect on his social platform, X. In a conversation with WPP’s Mark Read, Musk emphasized that his comment was not about advertising in general but was made in defense of maintaining freedom of speech on X, even when advertisers were pushing for censorship.
Musk explained that his goal is to build a platform where diverse viewpoints can be expressed freely, prioritizing free speech over financial gain. When asked about his motivations, Musk highlighted his curiosity about the universe and his vision of creating a multi-planetary civilization as his driving forces. He stressed the importance of sending people to Mars to overcome the limitations of being a small, isolated planet.
Musk also discussed the potential dangers of AI, predicting a 10-20% chance of a doomsday scenario but also envisioning a future where work could become optional and AI would bring about a world of abundance. He remarked that we are living in the most interesting time in history and urged his audience to “enjoy the ride.”
Regarding radical changes, Musk predicted that within the next five years, AI will make significant advancements, and people may start to consider their personalized robots as friends. While he acknowledged the profound impact of these developments, Musk also expressed that he doesn’t wish to live forever. He noted that death is important to avoid societal stagnation and to allow for changes in leadership. In a moment of rare self-awareness, Musk humorously questioned how long we’d want some of the worst individuals in the world to live.