‘Godfather of AI’ says tech companies aren’t concerned with the AI endgame. They’re focused on short-term profits instead

Geoffrey Hinton standing in front of a white and grey background. (Credit: JONATHAN NACKSTRAND—AFP/Getty Images)

Elon Musk has a moonshot vision of life with AI: The technology will take all our jobs, while a “universal high income” will mean anyone can access a theoretical abundance of goods and services. Provided Musk’s lofty dream could even become a reality, there would, of course, be a profound existential reckoning.

“The question will really be one of meaning,” Musk said at the Viva Technology conference in May 2024. “If a computer can do—and the robots can do—everything better than you … does your life have meaning?”