Elon Musk Warns of 'Terminator'-Style AI Risks at Davos, Eyes FSD Approval in Europe by February

Elon Musk told attendees at the World Economic Forum in Davos on January 22, 2026, that artificial intelligence could surpass human intelligence by the end of 2026 and collectively outperform humanity within five years, urging caution to avoid a "Terminator"-style outcome. He reiterated Tesla’s (TSLA) goal of securing Supervised Full Self-Driving approval in Europe “hopefully next month,” with similar timing expected for China, while predicting robotaxis will be widespread across the U.S. by year-end. Musk also forecast that Tesla’s Optimus humanoid robots will be available for public sale by the end of 2027. Musk emphasized that AI progress is constrained not by computing power but by electrical infrastructure, citing solar energy as a solution—though he criticized U.S. solar tariffs that hinder deployment. He framed AI and robotics as tools for solving global labor shortages and boosting productivity, suggesting ubiquitous AI and robotics could trigger an unprecedented economic expansion. Despite no new product reveals or partnerships, Musk’s appearance served as a strategic appeal to regulators, investors, and policymakers to align with his timelines. His remarks were delivered amid muted audience response, underscoring a shift from novelty to institutional engagement.