Elon Musk Thinks The Unabomber Might Be Right
Elon Musk agrees with the Unabomber's anti-technology stance.
The recent passing of Ted Kaczynski, the infamous Unabomber, spurred a flurry of responses across social media, drawing comments from various corners, including high-profile figures. Among them, billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk offered a surprising perspective, expressing agreement with Kaczynski’s anti-technology stance, according to Futurism. In response to a tweet linking to an article discussing Kacyznski’s concerns about the escalating influence of technology, Musk tweeted, “He might not have been wrong.”
This unexpected alignment of viewpoints between Elon Musk and Ted Kaczynski naturally caught many of the technology tycoon’s followers off guard. Musk’s position as the owner and driving force behind influential tech giants like Twitter, Tesla, and SpaceX makes his agreement with Kaczynski’s ideas paradoxical. As expected, numerous users took to the comments to call Musk out on his contradictory stance.
Some users refrained from outright condemning Elon Musk and instead requested him to provide further elaboration on why Ted Kaczynski’s anti-technology views may hold merit. On the other hand, there were individuals who countered by emphasizing the essential role technology plays in providing necessities such as automobiles and the Internet. Finally, a portion of users voiced their disgust at Musk’s statement, expressing disbelief that he could align himself with an individual who had committed such abhorrent crimes.
Ted Kaczynski gained infamy as a domestic terrorist in the United States during the late 20th century. Born in 1942, Kaczynski was a mathematician and former university professor before engaging in a bombing spree that lasted from 1978 to 1995. His targets included universities, airlines, and individuals involved in technology, resulting in multiple injuries and fatalities before his eventual capture in 1996.
Elon Musk’s surprising agreement with Ted Kaczynski’s views on technology certainly comes as a shock to many, but those who have been closely following Musk’s public statements are less taken aback. Recently, Musk has been openly expressing his concerns regarding the potential dangers linked to technology, particularly artificial intelligence. Through his vocal stance, he has garnered attention and shed light on his apprehensions about the possible risks posed by technological advancements.
During an in-depth interview with Tucker Carlson in April, Elon Musk candidly expressed his deep concerns regarding the implications of artificial intelligence (AI), specifically underlining the potential for catastrophic consequences on civilization. Alarmed by these possibilities, Musk took a proactive stance by signing an open letter alongside numerous AI experts, advocating for a temporary halt in the development of AI technologies. Other notable figures within the industry, like Sam Altman of OpenAI and Blake Masters, a venture capitalist who has ventured into politics, have echoed these worries and stressed the need to carefully consider the societal impact of AI advancements.
Headlines centered around Elon Musk and his belief that Kaczynski was right to be concerned about the risks posed by technology coincided with the confirmation that Kaczynski’s death was ruled as a suicide. Kaczynski was found unresponsive in his prison cell at the federal medical facility in Butner, North Carolina. Initially serving a life sentence at the federal supermax prison in Florence, Colorado, Kaczynski had been transferred to the North Carolina facility in December 2021 due to declining health.
