During an interview at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity on Wednesday, Elon Musk discussed his stance on the longevity industry. While some of Musk’s Silicon Valley peers, such as Jeff Bezos, Peter Thiel, and Sam Altman, have invested in longevity research to combat aging, Musk has refrained from such ventures. Instead, he has expressed concerns about the impact of an aging population on the world, emphasizing the importance of sustaining society through a balance of birth and mortality rates.
Musk explained that he believes it is important for people to die at some point, stating that he had not made any investments in the longevity industry. In a conversation with Mark Read, CEO of advertising giant WPP, Musk expressed his concern that living too long could have negative consequences for society. He mentioned that without the changing of leadership due to aging and death, new ideas may not flourish as people become set in their ways.
Musk humorously questioned how long some of the worst individuals in the world should live, highlighting his belief that death serves a purpose. This is not the first time Musk has spoken about death; previously he stated that he doesn’t think anyone should try to live for an excessively long time. Despite these views, Musk remains committed to advancing technology and innovation in various fields including electric vehicles and space exploration which may indirectly contribute to extending human lifespan in future generations.
