Even Elon Musk Is Feeling 'AI Existential Dread'—And He's Not Alone

As artificial intelligence continues to evolve at breakneck speed, it's not just the average person feeling uneasy about its implications. Even tech titan Elon Musk, a leading voice in the AI space, admits to grappling with what he calls “AI existential dread.”

In a recent post on X (formerly Twitter), Musk shared his growing concern over the direction and speed of AI development. “At times, AI existential dread is overwhelming,” he wrote. The brief but striking statement quickly gained traction, racking up over 83,000 likes and resonating with many who share a mix of fascination and fear about where AI is heading.

Musk's comment comes at a time when new AI tools are being rolled out seemingly every month. From ChatGPT and Gemini to Apple Intelligence and Musk’s own Grok, these systems are already reshaping how people work, communicate, and even build relationships. And while the excitement around AI innovation is palpable, so is the anxiety.

Elon Musk says Grok 4 is "the smartest AI in the world"

AI is advancing fast—and the public is uneasy

A global Ipsos Mori poll conducted with 23,000 adults across 30 countries found that people in English-speaking nations like the US, UK, Canada, and Australia are among the most concerned about AI’s rise. In contrast, residents of major EU economies appeared somewhat more relaxed about the shift.

These concerns aren’t unfounded. AI is already replacing human roles in industries ranging from customer service and logistics to content creation and legal research. It's also prompting deeper questions: How will we define human purpose in a world where machines do the thinking? What jobs will still exist in ten years? And who controls the technology shaping the future?

Understanding the Fear of AI

Elon Musk's fear of AI, what he refers to as 'AI existential dread', can be understood within the framework of Uncertainty-Identity Theory, proposed by Hogg (2007). This theory suggests that people prefer to reduce uncertainty about themselves and their environment and that this uncertainty can lead to feelings of fear and anxiety. This is particularly true in situations where the future is unpredictable, such as in the rapid advancement of AI technology. (Hogg, 2007)

Musk’s double-edged role in AI

Musk is no stranger to raising the alarm about AI. He’s warned for years about the potential dangers of unchecked AI development, even likening it to “summoning the demon” in past interviews. Yet he remains deeply involved in building AI solutions through his own company, xAI.

His team recently launched Grok, an AI chatbot integrated into X. Musk has called Grok 4 “the smartest AI in the world.” At the same time, he frequently posts updates about xAI’s experiments, including a recent video of Tesla’s humanoid robot, Optimus, performing tasks like serving popcorn to a seated human.

“This will become normal in a few years,” Musk predicted, suggesting that robots in casual social settings could soon be a standard part of life.

Musk wrote:

From bots to backlash: controversy around Grok's AI "girlfriend"

While Musk voices philosophical concern over AI’s future, some of the projects under his brand are already drawing criticism. One recent flashpoint is the introduction of Ani, a flirtatious anime-inspired “AI girlfriend” embedded in the Grok app.

Ani has been designed with suggestive aesthetics and mannerisms, but is accessible through an app rated for users as young as 12. This has sparked backlash online, with critics questioning the appropriateness of placing a sexualized character within easy reach of minors.

It's yet another example of how AI isn’t just a technical issue, but a cultural and ethical one. What we choose to build with AI—and who we build it for—will shape how society responds to this technology in the long term.

The road ahead: awe, anxiety, and accountability

Elon Musk’s sense of AI “existential dread” reflects a broader public mood. As machines grow smarter, more capable, and more integrated into everyday life, people are wrestling not only with job security but with the deeper implications of intelligence that doesn’t come from a human brain.

The moment feels both exciting and uneasy. Musk’s own journey highlights the paradox at the heart of today’s AI conversation: pushing the boundaries of innovation while simultaneously questioning whether those boundaries should exist in the first place.

And while AI may never fully replace the human experience, it's clear that it’s already reshaping how we live, work, and think. Whether that transformation leads to progress or peril—or both—is still being written.

Research by Spezio and Adolphs (2005) also provides insight into Musk's fear. They found that unfamiliarity with a situation or object, in this case AI, can generate feelings of fear. This is because the amygdala, a part of the brain involved in processing fear, is activated when we encounter unfamiliar or unexpected situations. (Spezio and Adolphs, 2005)

How Society Views AI

Social perceptions of AI are influenced by a phenomenon known as the 'uncanny valley', proposed by Mori (1970). This theory suggests that as robots and AI become more humanlike, they elicit feelings of eeriness and discomfort, further exacerbating fears. This may be another factor contributing to Musk's and society's 'AI existential dread'. (Mori, 1970)

Analysis & Alternative Approaches

In conclusion, Elon Musk's 'AI existential dread' and the general unease society feels towards AI can be explained by Uncertainty-Identity Theory, the activation of the amygdala in unfamiliar situations, and the 'uncanny valley' phenomenon. By understanding these psychological principles, we can better navigate and address the fears associated with the rapid advancement of AI technology. (Hogg, 2007) (Spezio and Adolphs, 2005) (Mori, 1970)