Elon Musk: More Humanoid Robots Than People by 2040

Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, speaks at the 8th Future Investment Initiative conference, which began Tuesday in Riyadh (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, speaks at the 8th Future Investment Initiative conference, which began Tuesday in Riyadh (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Elon Musk: More Humanoid Robots Than People by 2040

Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, speaks at the 8th Future Investment Initiative conference, which began Tuesday in Riyadh (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, speaks at the 8th Future Investment Initiative conference, which began Tuesday in Riyadh (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, suggested on Tuesday that humanoid robots could surpass the human population by 2040, also predicting that each robot will be priced about $25,000.

Musk was speaking at the 8th Future Investment Initiative conference, which began Tuesday in Saudi Arabia’s capital, Riyadh.

The Tesla CEO, who plans to launch about five uncrewed Starship missions to Mars in two years, voiced concerns about the existential risks associated with artificial intelligence. “AI poses a significant existential threat, and we need to address it seriously,” he said.

Musk then emphasized the critical role of birth rates in sustaining society. “If we don’t produce new humans, there’s no future for humanity, and all the policies in the world won’t change that,” he said.

The Tesla chief executive anticipated that by 2029, AI could perform any task a human can, also stressing the ongoing need for advanced computing skills and technological transformation.

Separately, Musk said he expects self-driving cars to start operating in both California and Texas next year. He stressed that the models will be safer than human driving

He said Tesla plans to increase production. He expected 9 to 9.5 million vehicles on the road by the end of next year.

In the long term, Musk said, Tesla aims to produce 100 million cars as the company starts the mass production of vehicles with no steering wheel or pedals by 2026.

Musk then argued that excessive bureaucratic regulation was stifling growth, particularly in the US.

He said the biggest obstacle to progress is bureaucracy and “that’s been growing every year, especially under the Biden administration.”



Syria, World Bank Discuss Tools to Support Syrian Economic Recovery

People wait their turn in a queue outside an ATM in Damascus on April 16, 2025. (Photo by LOUAI BESHARA / AFP)
People wait their turn in a queue outside an ATM in Damascus on April 16, 2025. (Photo by LOUAI BESHARA / AFP)
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Syria, World Bank Discuss Tools to Support Syrian Economic Recovery

People wait their turn in a queue outside an ATM in Damascus on April 16, 2025. (Photo by LOUAI BESHARA / AFP)
People wait their turn in a queue outside an ATM in Damascus on April 16, 2025. (Photo by LOUAI BESHARA / AFP)

Members of the Syrian government and a delegation from the World Bank discussed in Damascus tools to support Syria's economic recovery, the Syrian foreign ministry said on Wednesday.

Sources told Reuters on Saturday that Syrian officials are planning to attend the annual spring meetings held by the International Monetary Fund and World Bank in Washington, D.C. this month, which would be the first such visit in at least two decades.

Syria has around $15 million in arrears to the World Bank which must be paid off before the international financial institution can approve grants and provide other forms of assistance.

But Damascus is short of foreign currency and a previous plan to pay off the debts using assets frozen abroad did not materialize, according to two people familiar with the matter.

A technical delegation from the World Bank met with Syria's Finance Minister Mohammed Yosr Bernieh on Monday, according to the Syrian state news agency Sana.
The meeting, which was the first public meeting between the Syrian government and the World Bank, included discussions on strengthening financial and economic ties between the two sides.
Bernieh also highlighted the negative effects of the international sanctions imposed on Syria and policies of the former regime on the country's financial and banking sector.