A video of Elon Musk’s appearance at a tech event has been making the rounds on social media lately. In the clip uploaded by user @ElonClipsX on X, the Tesla CEO explained how dangerous it could for AI to be programmed in with “explicit morality.”
Since the upload on November 20, the post has garnered over one million views, 7k likes and around 2k reposts. However, the comment section witnessed the users sharing mixed reactions to Elon Musk’s viewpoint. Many questioned whether the AI tech industry recognizes this risk as a whole, while other commended Musk for identifying the same.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk warns about programming Morality into AI
Elon Musk: Programming explicit morality into AI can backfire dangerously.
— ELON CLIPS (@ElonClipsX) November 20, 2025
“I do think there's some danger associated with digital superintelligence. I think the biggest issue is that it has to be trained to be rigorously truthful, and it has to be trained to be curious. And… pic.twitter.com/HjqVvW9sSl
During a discussion at the Viva Tech Paris event last year in May, Elon Musk expressed his views on coding conscience in artificial intelligence. The Tesla and SpaceX CEO stated that the inclusion of morality would compromise the integrity of AI models and tools. He said, “I do think there’s some danger associated with digital superintelligence. I think the biggest issue is that it has to be trained to be rigorously truthful, and it has to be trained to be curious.“
Elaborating on the need for AI safety, Musk said, “One of the challenges you have with programming explicit morality into AI is what people sometimes call the Waluigi problem. If you program Luigi, you can automatically invert that and create Waluigi – bad Luigi.” The chief executive stated that programming morality into artificial intelligence has the possibility of it backfiring. In his opinion, an AI model may become the opposite of designed intent.
With this, Musk poses two questions regarding the credibility an AI that is coded with a sense to comprehend morality. He asks, “I think what regulators should be concerned about is, is the AI being rigorously truthful? Is it giving an answer that is most probably correct with acknowledged error?” Although Musk mentioned that xAI is attempting to address this issue.
Related: Tesla CEO Elon Musk Envisions a Future Where AI Eradicates Poverty and Boosts Global Wealth
Social media reacts to Elon Musk’s opinion on AI and Morality
The recent X clip featuring Elon Musk speaking about the risks of programming morality in AI has divided users on social media. Although several criticized Musk in the comment section, others chose to focus on the particular point he made in the video. They questioned whether other AI companies besides xAI have realized the same and have taken the required steps to avert from such a crisis.
While I agree and appreciate xAI has this mentality, they are not the only group making AI. What stops other actors from acting outside these bounds? Based on history, what about the idea if we don’t make it first they will. Do the guardrails go away in the name of national…
— CDotConsulting (@CDotConsulting) November 21, 2025
Other users chose to express their wholehearted support to the Tesla CEO for his vision to make sure AI does not go out of hand.
Elon Musk cares about humanity ✅️
— Adam Charles Maxwell (@mmni99inc) November 21, 2025
The concern of an AI with “explicit morality” going against the very ideas the programmers developed the model with is worth wondering over. However, the risks must be realized by the entire AI tech industry and prepare measures that would make sure AI models and tools are developed to support human labor and creativity.
