Elon Musk was the keynote speaker at VivaTech 2024, where he discussed his views on artificial intelligence and upcoming projects. Unlike previous years, Musk opted for a video conference instead of attending in person. During the hour-long session, he spoke with Maurice Lévy, the event’s founder, and answered questions from the audience, each question lasting just 15 seconds.
One of the key topics discussed was Musk’s concerns about generative AIs deviating from the truth to adhere to political correctness. He expressed his commitment to creating AI that prioritizes honesty over political correctness, criticizing Google’s Gemini AI for compromising accuracy in an attempt to avoid discrimination. Despite acknowledging that his xAI is not yet ready to compete with industry giants like OpenAI or Google, Musk expressed confidence in its potential future competitiveness. Safety was highlighted as a crucial issue that will need to be addressed as xAI becomes more competitive.
Musk also touched on social media and its negative effects on mental health. He cautioned parents to limit their children’s exposure to these platforms. Additionally, Musk discussed brain implants and how they could potentially restore mobility to individuals with disabilities through technologies like Neuralink. With an upcoming fundraising round expected to value xAI between 18-20 billion dollars, Musk’s vision for the future of artificial intelligence appears to be gaining momentum.
However, technical difficulties briefly interrupted the video conference when Musk experienced a connection drop for over three minutes. Despite this setback, he returned to the virtual stage with his usual energy and continued discussing his projects and vision for AI.
Overall, Musk provided insight into his vision for artificial intelligence at VivaTech 2024 while also addressing other pressing issues related to technology and its impact on society.
