Elon Musk: ‘god-like’ artificial intelligence could rule humanity

Tesla CEO and artificial intelligence doomsayer Elon Musk warns in a new documentary that a “god-like” AI could rule over – or even destroy – humanity in the future.

"If one company or small group of people manage to develop god-like super intelligence, they could take over the world," Musk says in the 80-minute documentary “Do You Trust Your Computer?,” according to Business Insider. “At least when there is an evil dictator, that human is going to die. But for AI there will be no death, it would live forever and then you have an immortal dictator from which we could never escape.”

This isn’t the first time that Musk has identified AI as a potential existential threat to humanity. The Tesla and SpaceX founder said last September that competition between countries seeking the most powerful AI could spark World War III.

Musk also criticized Mark Zuckerberg last July after the Facebook CEO downplayed the danger posed by artificial intelligence. Zuckerberg said “doomsday scenarios” related to AI were “irresponsible.”

"AI doesn't have to be evil to destroy humanity. If AI has a goal, and humanity is in the way, it will destroy humanity as a matter of course without even thinking about it," Musk added in the documentary. "It's just like if we are building a road, and an anthill happens to be in the way, we don't hate ants, we are just building a road, so goodbye anthill."

The entire documentary is available to watch online.