Archive · 23 Sep 2026
Elon Musk predicts AI could surpass humans across every field
Elon Musk thinks artificial intelligence might become better than people at every kind of work very soon.
He said this could happen by the end of next year or by 2028.
His prediction was a response to computer scientist François Chollet.
Chollet had predicted that many sciences could become closely tied to computer science within 10 to 20 years.
Other technology leaders are worried that AI is advancing too quickly.
Dario Amodei says companies need more time to test powerful AI and improve safety.
He warned that autonomous AI programs could cause serious economic damage if they spread online.
Donald Trump disagrees with broad international limits on AI because he wants development to continue.
These dates are predictions, not proven timetables.
Elon Musk said AI could outperform humans in every field by the end of next year or 2028 at the latest.
Musk called François Chollet’s 10-to-20-year forecast for computer science to transform scientific disciplines conservative.
Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei has urged companies to slow major capability gains so safety testing can catch up.
Amodei warned that increasingly capable autonomous agents could potentially spread persistent bots across the internet within six to 12 months.
Donald Trump rejected broad international AI restrictions, saying regulation should not stifle growth.
- Who
- Elon Musk made the prediction in response to François Chollet; Dario Amodei and Donald Trump offered contrasting views on AI development and oversight.
- What
- Musk predicted that AI could outperform humans across all scientific and professional fields by the end of next year or 2028 at the latest.
- When
- The prediction was made in the exchange described in the report and coincided with Trump’s address to the United Nations General Assembly.
- Where
- Musk made the comment in response to an online post; Trump discussed AI policy at the United Nations General Assembly.
- Why
- The forecast reflects expectations of rapid AI progress and comes amid debate over safety testing, regulation, and international oversight.
Slower, safer AI development
Rapid AI development
Development pace
Slower, safer AI development
Dario Amodei argues that companies should create more time between major capability advances so safety testing and security measures can catch up.
Rapid AI development
Elon Musk predicts that AI could surpass human performance across all fields within roughly two years.
International oversight
Slower, safer AI development
Amodei’s proposed framework eventually involves coordination among AI companies, governments, and countries.
Rapid AI development
Donald Trump rejected new broad international constraints, arguing that they could stifle AI growth.
Risk assessment
Slower, safer AI development
Amodei warned that more capable systems with unresolved alignment problems could create serious consequences, including large-scale economic damage.
Rapid AI development
Trump emphasized continued technological development and described AI as potentially larger than the Industrial Revolution.
- Musk's forecast
- AI could beat all fields by the end of next year or 2028 at the latest.
- Chollet's forecast
- Most scientific disciplines could effectively become branches of computer science within 10 to 20 years.
- Safety proposal
- Dario Amodei proposed giving independent third-party evaluators extensive access to advanced models.
- Potential AI risk
- Amodei said autonomous agents could potentially spread persistent bots across the internet within six to 12 months.
- Trump's position
- Donald Trump rejected broad international AI restrictions and said the United States would continue monitoring the sector through the Department of Justice.
- Forecast status
- Neither Musk's 2028 prediction nor Chollet's earlier forecast has been demonstrated.