Artificial Intelligence A Bigger Threat Than Rogue State North Korea, Says Elon Musk

Billionaire businessman and Tesla chief executive Elon Musk has issued a stark warning against artificial intelligence (AI), suggesting that the emerging technologies pose greater risks to the world than the risk posed by escalating tensions with North Korea.

A long time critic of AI, Musk, who is spearheading commercial space travel with his venture SpaceX, said in a Twitter post that people should be concerned about the rise of the machines than they currently are.

"If you're not concerned about AI safety, you should be. Vastly more risk than North Korea," Musk tweeted referencing Kim Jong Un's threat of a missile strike on US base Guam.

Musk also posted a photo of a poster displaying the chilling words "In the end, the machines will win."

The Hill magazine reported that his comments were in reference to his non-profit start-up, OpenAI, which defeated many of the world's top players at a video game.

Musk has called for regulation of AI in the past, saying just last month that regulation is needed now or “by the time we are reactive in AI regulation, it’s too late”.