Elon Musk’s innovations are reshaping the world, but people have mixed feelings about the impact on society. Musk’s projects aren’t just limited to electric cars and self-driving technology, he’s also advancing artificial intelligence, pushing it to the point where robots can function almost like humans. These robots are designed to take on various roles, from repetitive tasks to more complex functions, which has sparked debate about the future of jobs and human-robot interactions. Two senior students, Ben Lewis and Ryan Berlage, shared their perspectives to understand students’ views on Musk’s tech.
Ben views Musk’s technology as largely beneficial, especially for the economy. He admits, “I personally don’t like electric cars,” but acknowledges that advancements like Tesla’s self-driving technology “can help a lot of people.” Ben points to Tesla’s stock performance as a sign of its economic impact but also worries about the environmental damage caused by lithium mining for electric car batteries.
Ryan meanwhile, believes Musk’s tech is helpful now but might go too far in the future. He sees Musk’s AI tools as useful but worries they could eventually replace people’s jobs. “It’s fine for now, but it’s gonna reach a point where it’s taking people’s jobs,” he says. As a car enthusiast, he hopes self-driving technology doesn’t eventually lead to a future where people are banned from driving gas cars, something he values as personal freedom.
Overall, both students recognize the positive impact of Musk’s technology but worry about its potential downsides. Musk’s inventions are changing industries and pushing the limits of what’s possible, but they also raise questions about job and environmental costs. As his tech keeps advancing, society must find a balance that keeps progress moving forward without losing sight of how it affects everyday people.