During a Capitol Hill summit last Wednesday morning attended by prominent tech executives, activists and researchers, Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla, advocated for the establishment of a federal agency dedicated to artificial intelligence in discussions with journalists.

Musk made a striking entrance at the Capitol, arriving in a sleek black Tesla. His mission: to engage with Congress and fellow tech luminaries, among them OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and Google CEO Sundar Pichai. Musk, who has consistently warned of the grave dangers posed by unbridled AI, once again underscored his concerns for the future of AI.

“I think this meeting could go down in history as important to the future of civilization,” Musk told reporters after the summit, adding that it is potentially harmful to all humans everywhere.

Musk conveyed his positive outlook regarding the meeting, noting a prevailing “solid consensus.” He envisioned the potential operation of the federal AI department akin to institutions such as the Federal Aviation Administration or the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Musk emphasized the need for a proactive approach rather than merely reacting to the challenges within the AI domain.

In July, Musk started his own AI company, xAI. Although there have been scant updates from the company’s inner workings, Musk has consistently voiced his conviction through public declarations that the development of AI must be guided by robust safeguards.

Anticipated this year, the White House is poised to unveil an executive order on AI, coinciding with ongoing considerations of AI-related legislation in Congress.

The inaugural closed-door forum marks the initiation of a series, with Senator Chuck Schumer indicating that forthcoming meetings are likely to be conducted in a more open and public manner.

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