Musk: Humans Won't Be In Control In 10 Years

Elon Musk just delivered one of his most striking predictions yet about the future of artificial intelligence. In an interview with The Economist Editor-in-Chief Zanny Minton Beddoes published in late July 2026, the Tesla and SpaceX CEO said he expects AI to exceed the total sum of human intelligence within roughly five years. In his own words, "I think AI may exceed the sum of human intelligence in around five years… there really won't be anything that AI can't do better than humans apart from being human perhaps." When Beddoes asked whether that meant humans would no longer be in control within 10 years, Musk answered, "I think it is unlikely." He explained the reasoning with a striking analogy: "If the difference in intelligence between AI and humans is vastly greater than the difference in intelligence between AI and chimpanzees, it's hard to imagine that the chimpanzees would be in charge. We are essentially an evolved form of chimpanzee. It wasn't that long ago that we were swinging through the trees eating bananas… and we still eat bananas." Musk's point, once AI becomes vastly more intelligent than humans, people may have no more influence over it than chimpanzees currently have over us. What is notable is how much Musk's tone has shifted. For years he was one of the loudest voices warning about AI's risks and calling for a pause in development. Now he says, "I can't see any way to really stop this incredible momentum of AI and robots," and even suggests that pressing a stop button would be a mistake because "the most likely outcome is an age of amazing abundance where anyone can have anything they can think of." Musk also acknowledged his own role in accelerating the field, noting that co-founding OpenAI as a counterweight to Google produced "knock-on effects that accelerated AI, which wasn't really my intention. It just seems like all roads lead to acceleration of AI." His new philosophy in three words, "let's enjoy the ride." --- #ElonMusk #AI #TheEconomist 🌐 Find more market-moving insights at https://www.benzinga.com — your one-stop destination for the latest financial news, data, and expert analysis to stay ahead of the markets. 🖥️ Want the same tools the pros use—without the $10K Bloomberg terminal? Benzinga Edge gives you real-time portfolio alerts, weekly stock picks, and pro-grade research in one command center. 👉 https://bit.ly/4unSKiB ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 📲 Follow us on socials @benzinga 🔔 Subscribe To The Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Benzinga ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ⚠️ Disclaimer: Investing in financial markets carries risk, and there are no guaranteed returns. All information is for educational purposes only and should not be taken as financial advice. Always do your own research and speak with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. Only invest what you can afford to lose. Past performance does not guarantee future outcomes.