Elon Musk, the enigmatic entrepreneur and CEO of SpaceX and Tesla, is no stranger to making bold and sometimes outlandish predictions. His latest proclamation involves the future of Earth, with Musk suggesting that we could soon see a billion humanoid robots walking among us.
The genesis of this statement lies in a tweet from David Holz, founder of Midjourney, who predicted a future where Earth hosts a billion humanoid robots by the 2040s. Musk, known for his active presence on social media, responded with a casual “Probably something like that, provided the foundations of civilization are stable.” The qualifier about stable foundations suggests Musk recognizes the need for societal stability to accommodate such a massive influx of robots.
This futuristic prediction is in agreement with a larger pattern in the technology and robotics sector. Ten years ago, experts in the field foresaw that by the year 2025, artificial intelligence and robots would be widely present in almost every aspect of our daily routines. Although we have not reached that point yet, several knowledgeable individuals continue to hold a positive outlook, albeit with revised timeframes. Macquarie, a financial firm, projected in 2023 that humanoid robots may begin to take over human jobs in factories by the middle of the 2030s.
Musk’s declaration, though, arrives during a chaotic week for him, characterized by conflict and attention on Tesla’s mechanical abilities. A recording shared by Musk featuring a Tesla Optimus robot neatly folding a shirt faced examination when onlookers perceived a hand in gloves within the shot, implying human involvement. Musk subsequently clarified that the robot currently lacks complete independence but ensured that it will acquire it eventually.
With his recent scandals and disappointments, Musk is probably going to be cautious when making predictions. His tendency for bold assertions is unabated, nevertheless. Time will tell if Musk’s goal of creating one billion humanoid robots comes to pass. Meanwhile, it’s evident that Elon Musk continues to lead the way in making audacious and visually striking declarations. Whether you like him or not, Musk will undoubtedly have an impact on technology in the future.
