In a recent exploration into OpenAI’s history, surprising details have emerged regarding Elon Musk, one of the company’s co-founders and according to the New York Times, a pivotal moment occurred in 2012 during a conversation between Musk and Demis Hassabis, co-founder of Google DeepMind, at a conference organized by mutual investor Peter Thiel. The discussion revolved around Musk’s ambitious plans to colonize Mars as a solution to global overpopulation and other Earthly issues.
During a tour of SpaceX’s headquarters, Musk enthusiastically shared his vision with Hassabis. However, Hassabis, known for his persuasive abilities in securing funding for artificial general intelligence (AGI), added a cautionary note. He pointed out that if AI surpassed human intelligence, it could easily follow humanity to Mars, posing a threat even on the Red Planet. Musk, as reported by the NYT, was “speechless,” seemingly not having considered the possibility that Earthbound problems could extend to Mars.
Despite this surprising revelation, Musk went on to invest in DeepMind. However, in later years, he publicly criticized the company, referring to it as his “top concern” regarding AI. Musk expressed concerns about the nature of the AI being developed at DeepMind, highlighting its ability to outperform humans in various games, akin to the plot line of the movie “War Games.”
“Just the nature of the AI that they’re building is one that crushes all humans at all games,” Musk told the Times’ Maureen Dowd back in 2020, referencing the firm’s early innovation in AI that can outplay humans at old-school video games. “I mean, it’s basically the plotline in ‘War Games.'”
The exchange between Musk and Hassabis, shared by the latter with Musk biographer Walter Isaacson, is noteworthy not only for its humorous element—depicting the usually outspoken tycoon as “speechless”—but also for exposing a potential flaw in Musk’s grand plan to colonize Mars. The story underscores the oversight in Musk’s considerations at the time, as he had not contemplated the idea that challenges faced on Earth could seamlessly transition to Mars.
This revelation adds a layer of complexity to Musk’s long-standing dream of making humanity a multi-planetary species. It highlights the importance of carefully considering the potential risks and consequences associated with such ambitious endeavors, particularly in the context of advancing artificial intelligence and its implications for the future of human colonization on other planets.
