Elon Musk made his debut at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland on January 22, 2026, sitting down with BlackRock CEO Larry Fink for a roughly 30-minute conversation. This marked a sharp reversal from Musk's long-standing criticism of the forum, which he had previously dismissed as "mind-numbingly boring" and an "unelected world government." His participation signals a shift from critic to insider and highlights the changing dynamics between tech titans and traditional global institutions.
AI Timeline: From Individual to Collective Superintelligence
Musk reiterated his bold timeline for artificial intelligence: AI will surpass the intelligence of a single human by the end of 2026, and exceed the collective intelligence of all humans by around 2030. He described this as an inevitable trajectory tied to his work at xAI. He also predicted that the proliferation of humanoid robots, particularly Tesla's Optimus, will unlock an era of "universal abundance." Musk expects the number of robots to eventually reach billions, giving every person on Earth access to a robot that dramatically improves living standards and addresses challenges like poverty and elderly care.
Optimus Robot: Factory Use in 2026, Sales in 2027
Musk confirmed that Optimus humanoid robots will begin working inside Tesla factories by the end of 2026, with external sales starting in 2027. He argued that mass deployment of robots will not only boost productivity but also reshape society by freeing humans from mundane labor.
FSD Nears Full Solution
On Tesla's Full Self-Driving (FSD) system, Musk stated bluntly: "Self-driving cars are essentially a solved problem." He noted that the FSD software has become so reliable that some insurers offer up to 50% premium discounts to drivers using it. He expects regulatory approval for "Supervised Full Self-Driving" in Europe within the next month, with China following a similar timeline. He also predicted that Robotaxi services will become "very, very widespread" in the U.S. by the end of this year.
Space Exploration and Energy Constraints
Musk emphasized SpaceX's goal of extending life to Mars and the Moon to safeguard what he called the universe's rare "consciousness." He noted that no alien life has been found yet, making human consciousness potentially unique. Energy, he said, is the biggest bottleneck for AI development, especially for off-Earth computing—calling for massive investment in sustainable energy sources.
On Aging, Mortality, and Optimism
Touching on human longevity, Musk said technology can partially mitigate aging, but death serves a purpose in preventing societal stagnation. He urged a stance of optimism: "It's better to be an optimist and be wrong, than to be a pessimist and be right." He concluded by calling on global leaders and the public to stay excited and hopeful about the future.