Abdelrahman
Elon Musk Advocates for Major Government Reforms at Dubai Summit
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — During a recent virtual appearance at the World Government Summit in Dubai, Elon Musk urged the United States to eliminate entire federal agencies as part of a broader initiative to significantly reduce government spending and realign its focus. His comments come in the context of supporting former President Donald Trump’s vision for a leaner government.
Musk, who delivered a comprehensive address infused with references to "thermonuclear warfare" and the potential hazards posed by artificial intelligence, emphasized the importance of prioritizing the people’s needs over bureaucratic interests. Dressed in a black T-shirt proclaiming "Tech Support," he humorously labeled himself as the “tech support for the White House,” a nod to his persona on the social media platform X.
"I genuinely believe we need to dismantle entire agencies instead of merely reforming them," Musk stated, emphasizing the need to address the root causes of inefficiencies. He warned that failing to do so would allow those problems to resurface.
This latest appearance is particularly significant as Musk continues to exert influence within the government, having taken on a pivotal role in the newly established Department of Government Efficiency, backed by Trump. This position has enabled him to navigate operational challenges, access sensitive databases, and provoke a constitutional debate regarding the extent of presidential powers.
As the world’s richest individual, owing much of his fortune to ventures like SpaceX and Tesla, Musk’s insights carry considerable weight. His remarks also reflected a more isolationist stance on U.S. foreign policy, particularly in the Middle East, where the country has been involved in conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq following the September 11 attacks.
Musk mentioned, "Much attention has been directed at agencies like USAID," speaking to Trump’s efforts to reduce the influence of the U.S. Agency for International Development. He jestingly questioned the actual achievements of organizations like the National Endowment for Democracy, noting, "How much democracy have they really fostered lately?"
The tech mogul reinforced the idea that under Trump’s administration, the U.S. is leaning towards a policy of non-intervention in global affairs. "There have been times when the U.S. has been overly assertive in international politics, which might resonate with some in this audience," he stated, speaking to an audience in the UAE, known for its autocratic governance.
"Essentially, America should focus on its own interests rather than pursuing regime change everywhere," he added. Musk further discussed the Trump administration’s attempt to minimize diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, connecting this theme to the repercussions of artificial intelligence.
"If, hypothetically, AI is programmed primarily for diversity, it could determine there are too many men in positions of power and act upon that," he cautioned.
On the topic of AI, Musk announced that the latest upgrade of X’s AI chatbot, Grok 3, is scheduled to launch in about two weeks, remarking that the technology is "somewhat intimidating."
He expressed skepticism regarding Sam Altman’s direction of OpenAI, likening it to a conservation organization converting into a "lumber company." Musk stated that he would reconsider his recent bid worth $97.4 billion for OpenAI if the organization persisted with plans to switch to a for-profit model.
In addition to his government-related comments, Musk unveiled plans for a “Dubai Loop” project through his Boring Company, known for developing tunnel systems to expedite urban transportation. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum, Dubai’s crown prince, indicated that the city and Boring Company would work together to conceptualize a 17-kilometer underground transit network featuring 11 stations, capable of accommodating over 20,000 passengers per hour, although no financial details were disclosed.
"It’ll be like a wormhole," Musk promised. "You’ll travel from one part of the city and instantly emerge in another."
