NEWS  AI  December 6, 2023  Reading time: 2 Minute(s)

Max (RS editor)

Elon Musk's quest to colonize Mars is facing an unexpected antagonist – artificial intelligence. Back in 2012, Musk, in a cosmic chitchat with DeepMind co-founder Demis Hassabis, expressed hopes of escaping Earth's problems by colonizing the red planet. However, Hassabis, the AI whiz, threw a spanner in Musk's rocket, warning that AI could turn Mars into a colossal interplanetary oopsie-daisy.

Hassabis' reasoning? AI tagging along with humans could be the ultimate recipe for a Martian meltdown. Despite the concerns, Musk decided to boldly invest in Hassabis' AI venture, perhaps hoping to outsmart the very technology that could thwart his Martian dreams. Cue the dramatic music.

Fast forward to the present, and experts are assuring us that today's AI is more of a cosmic klutz than a conqueror. Christopher Alexander, chief analytics officer of Pioneer Development Group, assures that the current AI can't conjure something out of nothing. So, no worries, your Roomba won't suddenly start drafting intergalactic treaties.

But wait, Musk, now an AI worrywart, admits to being "a little worried about AI stuff". He even suggests the need for a regulatory authority overseeing AI development. The irony? Musk, the AI critic, is diving headfirst into AI projects like a kid in a candy store, proving that caution might be his middle name, but curiosity is his spirit animal.

Samuel Mangold-Lenett from The Federalist highlights Musk's unique talent for critiquing others' AI while cheerfully spearheading his own robotic revolutions. In Musk's universe, where AI is both friend and foe, our lives are destined to be more entwined with AI than a SpaceX rocket spiraling through the cosmos.

Despite Musk's caution, some argue that AI is the unsung hero in humanity's quest to settle on Mars. Picture this: AI-powered robot chemists brewing up oxygen supplies faster than a human chemist can say "Houston, we have a problem". A recent study suggests that an advanced AI chemist could whip up Martian essentials with minimal human meddling, proving that sometimes, AI is more sous-chef than sinister overlord.

Yet, Jon Schweppe from the American Principles Project insists that Musk's concerns are not to be dismissed lightly. He dubs AI an "existential threat to humanity", advocating for careful, bipartisan regulation to prevent a chaotic AI uprising.

In this cosmic comedy, Musk juggles AI fears, interplanetary dreams, and a dash of skepticism, leaving us to wonder: will Mars become the next Silicon Valley, or will AI have the last laugh? 

 IMAGES BY REVIEW SPACE | ELON'S FACE (C) MAYE MUSK