Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk recently visited Italy and was interviewed at the Atreju festival on Saturday, hosted by Fratelli d’Italia.
In his interview with Nicola Porro, Musk emphasized the importance of maintaining birth rates for the advancement of human civilization. He expressed concern over declining global birth rates, stating, “If people do not have children, there is no new generation.” Musk advocated for incentives to support childbearing and emphasized the fundamental role of humans in civilization’s progress.
Musk also addressed environmental issues, highlighting his contributions through electric cars, solar energy, and batteries. He critiqued certain aspects of the environmental movement, suggesting it sometimes portrays humanity negatively. Despite acknowledging climate change as a long-term concern, he believes its immediate risks are overstated.
Discussing cultural identity, Musk stressed the importance of preserving the unique cultural identities of countries like Italy, France, and Japan. He argued against relying solely on immigration for population growth, noting that industrialized and urbanized countries universally experience population decline.
On the topic of ‘woke culture,’ Musk criticized it for amplifying divisiveness and being anti-meritocratic. He described it as a ‘mind virus’ that fosters self-hatred and societal division. He urged Europe not to import the ‘woke mind virus’ from America. He criticized cancel culture for its lack of joy, divisiveness, and disregard for merit. Emphasizing the importance of free speech as a democratic foundation, he warned against the dangers of censorship.
Regarding immigration, Musk expressed support for legal immigration, emphasizing the need for a process to ensure immigrants contribute positively to their host countries. He differentiated this from illegal immigration, which lacks a vetting process.
Musk also commented on investment opportunities in Italy, praising its culture and people. However, he expressed concern about the country’s low birth rate and its potential impact on the workforce.
Finally, Musk touched on artificial intelligence, describing it as a significant inflection point in intelligence since the emergence of Homo sapiens. He sees AI as a new species and a considerable challenge for the future of humanity.
Concluding his speech, Musk stood up, clenched his fist, and declared, “Long live humans, long live humanity,” championing human progress and freedom.
Check out the 46-minute video below:
