In 2025, Elon Musk remains one of the most vocal figures on artificial intelligence (AI), advancing both its capabilities and cautioning against its rapid evolution. With AI models surpassing individual human intelligence and approaching collective intelligence levels, Musk’s predictions are now moving from speculation to reality. His latest efforts—from leading the AI firm xAI to driving Tesla’s push for autonomous transportation—reflect both his ambition and concern for humanity’s future in an increasingly automated world.

AI Will Surpass Humans—Sooner Than Expected

Musk has long warned about AI’s potential to outpace human intelligence, but in 2025, he projects an even more accelerated timeline. He estimates that AI will surpass individual human intelligence by the end of this year and could exceed collective human intelligence by 2027 or 2028. “The trajectory is steep—much steeper than people realize,” Musk stated in a recent interview. “If we don’t set controls now, we risk creating something we can’t manage.”

His AI company, xAI, is rapidly scaling up its capabilities, with its latest chatbot, Grok-3, emerging as one of the most advanced AI systems. Trained using Tesla’s Colossus data center with 200,000 GPUs, Grok-3 outperforms major AI models in benchmarks that measure mathematical reasoning and scientific knowledge. The race for artificial general intelligence (AGI)—machines that think and learn like humans—has entered an inflection point, and Musk is at its forefront.

The Push for AI in Government and Industry

Beyond xAI, Musk is actively involved in leveraging AI for government efficiency. As head of the newly formed Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), an advisory role established by the U.S. government, he aims to streamline bureaucracy using AI. His proposal includes automating administrative processes, reducing inefficiencies, and potentially shrinking the federal workforce. According to Musk, these efforts could save over $1 trillion in government spending and help curb inflation.

His proposal includes automating administrative processes, reducing inefficiencies, and potentially shrinking the federal workforce.

Tesla, meanwhile, is expanding its AI-driven ambitions beyond self-driving cars. In early 2025, the company applied for permits to operate a ride-hailing service in California, positioning itself against Uber and Lyft. While human drivers may initially be involved, Tesla’s long-term goal is to transition to a fully autonomous fleet of robotaxis. “We’re on the brink of AI replacing most transportation jobs,” Musk commented. “It’s not a question of if, but when.”

The Looming Threat of Mass Unemployment

Despite his enthusiasm for AI advancements, Musk acknowledges the societal disruptions they will bring. He has consistently warned that AI-driven automation will make millions of jobs redundant, reviving discussions around universal basic income (UBI). “We need a safety net,” he has stated. “When AI can do everything better than a human, the question isn’t employment—it’s purpose.”

A pressing challenge remains: AI companies are running out of high-quality training data. As AI systems grow more advanced, they require larger and more diverse datasets to improve. Musk has pointed out that this bottleneck could slow down AI’s growth unless alternative data-collection methods emerge, such as real-world simulations or synthetic data generation.

The Balancing Act of Progress and Ethics

Musk’s dual role as an AI pioneer and AI skeptic puts him in a complex position. On one hand, he is pushing the boundaries of technology at an unprecedented pace. On the other, he is calling for regulatory measures and ethical considerations to prevent uncontrolled development. In 2023, he signed an open letter urging a pause on AI systems more advanced than GPT-4, and in 2025, he continues to advocate for AI safety protocols.

Yet, as AI capabilities expand, the question remains: How will humans adapt? Musk suggests that creativity, problem-solving, and human interaction will still hold value, but acknowledges that society must rethink work, education, and economic structures in a post-AI world.

Musk has pointed out that this bottleneck could slow down AI’s growth unless alternative data-collection methods emerge, such as real-world simulations or synthetic data generation.

For now, Musk’s AI revolution is accelerating. Whether society is prepared for its consequences remains to be seen.