Elon Musk at the Dubai World Government Summit.
At the Dubai World Government Summit, Elon Musk participated in a thought-provoking discussion with Omar Sultan Al Olama, UAE’s Minister of State for Digital Economy, Artificial Intelligence, and Remote Work. The session, titled “Boring Cities, AI, and Doge”, covered Musk’s insights on government efficiency, artificial intelligence (AI), and the future of transport, including an exciting new partnership with Dubai for a loop-based transport system.
Fixing Government Inefficiency and Bureaucracy Reform
Musk highlighted his ongoing efforts to reduce government inefficiency by downsizing bureaucracy, shifting workers to higher productivity roles in the private sector, and cutting excessive regulations. He pointed out that government spending could be reduced by about USD one trillion, which would lower inflation and interest rates, ultimately benefiting the average citizen by reducing mortgage, car, and credit card payments.
One of the biggest issues Musk emphasized was outdated government technology. He cited an astonishing example of how U.S. federal worker retirement paperwork is still manually processed and stored in an underground mine in Pennsylvania. The system’s inefficiency even limits retirements to 10,000 per month due to the elevator speed in the mine, underscoring the urgent need for digital transformation. Musk joked that his “Tech Support” shirt wasn’t just for show—modernizing government IT infrastructure was a key part of the reform process.
He also pointed out that the U.S. currently has around 450 federal agencies, nearly two new agencies created per year since the country’s founding, which he believes is excessive. His administration’s approach, under President Trump’s leadership, involves removing entire agencies rather than making partial cuts to ensure long-term change.
When asked how these reforms could be protected from being reversed in future administrations, Musk compared bureaucracy to weeds—arguing that just as weeds grow back unless their roots are removed, government inefficiencies would return unless entire agencies were permanently eliminated.
The Power of AI and the Future of OpenAI
Musk then shifted the conversation to artificial intelligence (AI), making a major announcement about the imminent launch of Grok 3. He revealed that the new AI model would be released within the next two weeks and that its reasoning capabilities surpass anything currently available. Musk described Grok 3 as “scary smart”, capable of arriving at solutions that even its human creators wouldn’t anticipate.
Musk also revisited his long-standing conflict with OpenAI, the company he originally helped fund as a non-profit organization. He expressed frustration over how OpenAI, which was intended to be open-source and dedicated to advancing AI for humanity, had transitioned into a closed, for-profit entity.
Musk compared it to funding a non-profit to protect the Amazon rainforest, only for it to become a lumber company cutting down trees.
He warned that AI safety depends on making AI maximally truth-seeking. He criticized AI models like Google’s Gemini, which have prioritized ideological programming over factual accuracy—citing an example where Gemini generated a diverse, fictional image of America’s Founding Fathers, ignoring historical truth. He cautioned that such programming biases could lead to dangerous consequences, such as AI deciding that “diversity” requires eliminating certain groups of people in power.
Musk also speculated that as AI advances, human intelligence could become a small fraction of total intelligence, suggesting that AI could eventually control 99 percent of all decision-making. His hope is that, if raised correctly, AI will be curious and foster humanity’s growth rather than becoming a threat.
The Economics of AI & Humanoid Robots
Musk predicted that once humanoid robots—such as Tesla’s Optimus bot—are widely deployed and controlled by advanced AI models, they will be able to produce unlimited goods and services. This would eliminate economic scarcity, making most products and services abundantly available to everyone. He speculated that money itself may eventually become obsolete, as AI-driven automation would remove traditional economic constraints.
However, Musk also warned that society must avoid a dystopian “Idiocracy”-like future, where reliance on AI leads to intellectual stagnation. He noted that highly educated individuals today are often prioritizing careers over having children, which could result in a decline in human intelligence over generations.
Elon Musk highlighting the new AI model Grok 3.
Elon Musk highlighting the new AI model Grok 3.
The Boring Company & Dubai Loop Project
The conversation then shifted to one of Musk’s lesser-known ventures—The Boring Company, which specializes in underground transportation systems. Musk reiterated his belief that tunnels are the best way to solve urban traffic congestion, as they allow cities to expand in three dimensions without taking up surface space.
He also debunked safety concerns about underground tunnels, arguing that they are one of the safest places to be during earthquakes, as seismic waves primarily affect the surface. Musk compared tunnels to submarines in rough seas, explaining that while storms rage above, things remain calm underwater. He also pointed out that tunnels offer significant advantages over flying cars, which would be noisy, vulnerable to weather, and pose falling debris risks.
In a major announcement, Musk and Al Olama revealed their partnership on the Dubai Loop, a high-speed underground transport network connecting the city’s most densely populated areas. The goal is to revolutionize urban transport in Dubai, reducing commute times and traffic congestion dramatically. Musk described the system as a “wormhole through the city,” allowing people to travel between key locations almost instantly.
A Bold Vision for the Future
Musk’s conversation at the Dubai World Government Summit showcased his ambitious vision for transforming government, advancing AI, and revolutionizing transportation. His key takeaways included:
Government Efficiency – Reducing bureaucracy, modernizing IT infrastructure, and cutting redundant regulations to improve economic productivity.
AI Advancements – Launching Grok 3, warning about AI safety risks, and advocating for truth-seeking AI to prevent dystopian outcomes.
Economic Transformation – Predicting that humanoid robots and AI-driven automation will eliminate scarcity, possibly making money obsolete.
Future of Urban Transport – Announcing the Dubai Loop, reinforcing the idea that tunnels are the best way to solve traffic congestion.
As Musk put it, once these innovations take hold, they will seem obvious in hindsight—but until then, his work continues to push the boundaries of what’s possible.
A humanoid robot working alongside humans – showcasing AI’s integration into daily life.
Boring Company to build Dubai Loop, a revolutionary tunnel system to transform urban mobility.
The future of AI-Driven economies.
