Elon Musk said AI industry leaders should self-regulate and cooperate to manage the risks associated with artificial intelligence technology [1].
This call for collaboration comes as the industry faces increasing pressure to address the potential dangers of rapid AI development. If the leading companies fail to coordinate, they risk a race to the bottom where safety is sacrificed for competitive speed.
Musk detailed these views during a 90-minute virtual interview [2] with Zanny Minton Beddoes, the editor-in-chief of The Economist. The conversation was conducted for The Insider platform on July 23, 2026 [1, 2].
During the discussion, Musk said that the potential for harm outweighs the benefits of corporate competition. He suggested that industry leaders must prioritize global stability over individual company gains, a shift he believes is necessary to avoid catastrophic outcomes.
"We need to set aside personal differences for the good of the world," Musk said [1].
Musk said he is willing to engage with other industry figures to establish these guardrails. He noted that while rivalries exist, the urgency of the risk necessitates a truce.
"If we have to talk, we’ll talk," Musk said [1].
Despite the current friction between major AI labs and developers, Musk said he is confident that a cooperative framework will eventually emerge. He suggested that the trajectory of the technology makes this outcome inevitable.
"People don't realise that what I'm saying will come to pass," Musk said [1].
“"We need to set aside personal differences for the good of the world."”
Musk's push for self-regulation reflects a broader tension in the tech sector between government oversight and industry-led governance. By advocating for a collaborative approach among AI bosses, he is proposing a model where the creators of the technology act as its primary gatekeepers, potentially bypassing slower legislative processes to mitigate existential risks.
