Elon Musk, unlike some of his tech industry contemporaries, is not interested in extending human life indefinitely. During a recent interview at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, the Tesla CEO expressed his belief that it is important for people to die at some point in order to prevent society from becoming stagnant. Musk stated that living too long ossifies society by preventing new ideas from emerging. He jokingly asked how long people would want the worst individuals in the world to live, highlighting his perspective on the issue.
This is not the first time Musk has spoken out on this topic. He has previously emphasized the importance of death and the dangers of trying to live for an extended period of time. While Musk remains skeptical of longevity efforts, many of his Silicon Valley peers, such as Jeff Bezos, Peter Thiel, and Sam Altman, have invested in companies working on reversing the effects of aging at a cellular level. Others are focused on combatting age-related illnesses like cancer and Parkinson’s disease.
Some entrepreneurs, like Kernel CEO Bryan Johnson, have embraced rigorous nutrition, exercise, and wellness regimens in an attempt to slow down or even reverse the aging process. Musk himself has expressed concerns about the impact of an aging population on society, warning that demographic shifts could pose a threat to civilization if birth rates remain low. Despite his reservations about longevity technology, Musk’s peers continue to invest in research and development to extend human lifespan.
Musk’s views on longevity and aging have been met with mixed reactions from experts and entrepreneurs alike. Some argue that prolonging life could lead to overpopulation and strain on resources while others believe that it would allow for greater innovation and progress. However one thing is clear: The debate surrounding immortality continues to be a hotly debated topic within
