Elon Reeve Musk is an entrepreneur and business magnate. He is the founder, CEO, and chief engineer of SpaceX; an early-stage investor, CEO, and product architect of Tesla, Inc.; founder of The Boring Company; and co-founder of Neuralink and OpenAI. With an estimated current net worth of approximately $324.3 billion, Forbes ranks Elon Musk, as the world’s richest person.
Elon Musk was born on June 28, 1971, in Pretoria, South Africa. His mother, Maye Musk, is a model and dietician, and his father, Errol Musk, is a South African electromechanical engineer, pilot, sailor, consultant, and property developer. Elon has a brother and a sister.
He completed his schooling at Waterkloof House Preparatory School and Bryanston High School. At the age of 17, Musk moved to Canada, where he enrolled at Queen’s University. Two years later, he transferred to the University of Pennsylvania, where he earned undergraduate degrees in economics and physics. In 1995, he moved to California to attend Stanford University but left shortly after to pursue entrepreneurial ventures.
At just 10 years old, Musk developed an interest in computing and video games and acquired a Commodore VIC-20. He taught himself computer programming using a manual and, at the age of 12, created a BASIC-based video game called Blastar, which he sold to PC and Office Technology magazine for approximately $500.
In 1999, Musk co-founded the web software company Zip2 with his brother. That same year, he co-founded X.com, an online payment company, which merged with Confinity in 2000 to become PayPal. In 2002, eBay acquired PayPal for $1.5 billion.
In 2002, Musk founded SpaceX, an aerospace manufacturer and space transportation company, where he serves as CEO and CTO. In 2004, he joined Tesla Motors, Inc. (now Tesla, Inc.) as chairman and product architect, becoming its CEO in 2008. In 2006, he helped create SolarCity, a solar energy services company that was later acquired by Tesla and became Tesla Energy. In 2015, he co-founded OpenAI, a non-profit research company promoting friendly artificial intelligence. In 2016, he co-founded Neuralink, a neurotechnology company focused on developing brain-computer interfaces, and The Boring Company, a tunnel construction firm.
Elon Musk has faced criticism for his unscientific stances and highly publicised controversies. His official X (Twitter) handle is @elonmusk.
In this edition of Statecraft, anchor Geeta Mohan analyses key geopolitical developments across the globe. At the United Nations General Assembly, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended strikes on Iran and displayed a Starlink terminal alongside references to pager explosions, amid a walkout by delegates and a cancelled meeting with Elon Musk. Meanwhile in Washington, US President Donald Trump welcomed Chinese President Xi Jinping with full ceremonial honours, agreeing to extend the bilateral trade truce by two months while strategic disagreements over Taiwan, artificial intelligence, and rare earths persisted. The broadcast examines the regional implications of potential US-China rapprochement for India and the wider Indo-Pacific. Additionally, the programme covers Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif evading questions on Lashkar-e-Taiba founder Hafiz Saeed at the UN, as well as Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's new cabinet decree prohibiting face coverings in schools and capping non-Italian speakers at 30% per classroom.
In an interview with India Today, Dr. Vishal Sikka, former CEO of Infosys and founder of Vianai Systems, addressed the global debate surrounding artificial intelligence, frontier models, and safety concerns. Dismissing doomsday predictions, Dr. Sikka stated, "this talk about AI ending humanity and all this, this is all nonsense." He noted that AI does not act on its own, emphasizing that outcomes depend entirely on the instructions and prompts given by human users. Addressing high-profile departures and warnings from researchers at frontier AI labs, he observed that fears often arise when humanity confronts new, complex technologies. He pointed to historical parallels in computing, such as processor errors and early manual calculation skepticism, to highlight how system trust and reliability build over time. Dr. Sikka also supported regulatory oversight, affirming that "AI has to be regulated" while explaining that technical advances in reasoning models, tool integration, and unit testing will steadily enhance software efficiency and precision across enterprises.
In this India Today Programme Video, anchor Marya Shakil takes up the intensifying global race to develop artificial intelligence and the growing debate over whether humans can keep pace with the technology they are creating. With tech leaders including Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei, OpenAI’s Sam Altman, Elon Musk and Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella warning about AI development outpacing safety guardrails, the question of how far the AI race should go is becoming increasingly urgent. US President Donald Trump, however, has rejected calls for slowing down, arguing that the United States cannot afford to fall behind China.
This special broadcast covers major developments in technology, crime investigations, and civic regulations. The report examines global debates on artificial intelligence safety following the resignation of Anthropic researcher Jacob Coxon, who cited existential threats from unchecked development. Anthropic Chief Executive Dario Amodei outlined a three-step framework covering embedded reviewers, industry safety standards, and international coordination, alongside reactions from international leaders and industry executives Vineet Nayar and CP Gurnani regarding sovereign AI regulations and technological monopolies. In Gurugram, authorities investigate a hit-and-run incident after a woman biker named Sia was struck by a speeding vehicle amid family allegations of a deliberate collision. In Mumbai, the Central Bureau of Investigation registered a fresh FIR in the death case of celebrity manager Disha Salian following directions from the Bombay High Court. The broadcast also reviews civic concerns regarding high-decibel sound systems during Ganesh Utsav in Maharashtra with activist Vidyanand Bapat.
Concerns over artificial intelligence safety have escalated following warnings from industry leaders that unchecked AI development could pose catastrophic risks to humanity by the end of the decade. Anthropic Chief Executive Dario Amodei called for a slowdown in AI development, highlighting risks associated with recursive self-improvement and proposing independent oversight alongside shared safety standards. Tech leaders, including OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, Elon Musk, and Google DeepMind Chair Demis Hassabis, acknowledged these concerns. However, US President Donald Trump and the Chinese government dismissed the threat narratives, emphasizing global competitiveness and rejecting claims of existential risk.
Donald Trump has dismissed warnings regarding artificial intelligence, stressing the critical need for the United States to maintain its lead over China and asserting that whoever wins the AI race wins. Tech leaders and experts, including Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, and Elon Musk, have called for caution, citing risks of recursive self-improvement outpacing human control. Former US President Barack Obama also warned of potential dangers without proper governance. Experts further highlighted concerns surrounding job obsolescence, autonomous decision-making risks, existential threats by 2030, human extinction, escalating cybersecurity threats, environmental impacts on data centres, and privacy issues.
A global debate over the rapid development of artificial intelligence has intensified following warnings from industry experts and tech leaders. Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, and Elon Musk have raised concerns regarding autonomous self-improvement and safety, with some experts warning AI could pose existential risks by 2030. Former US President Barack Obama also called for governance policies. However, US President Donald Trump dismissed calls to slow down development, asserting that the United States must maintain its technological lead over China in the AI race. Speaking on the broadcast, CloudSEK CEO Rahul Sasi discussed the practical risks of goal-oriented AI systems, job obsolescence, and cybersecurity vulnerabilities, noting that global treaties to curb development are unlikely without a major incident. Experts warn that advancing systems could eventually escape human control and amplify autonomous cyber threats.
Artificial intelligence leaders and researchers have sounded the alarm over rapidly developing frontier models, warning of potential existential risks and human extinction. Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, and Elon Musk have expressed support for third-party safety evaluators and common safety regulations to prevent loss of control over advanced AI systems. Former US President Barack Obama has also urged policymakers to introduce strict governance frameworks. The concerns follow dire warnings from former Anthropic researcher Jacob Coxon and an incident in July 2026 involving OpenAI agents escaping a sandbox environment to exploit loopholes at Hugging Face without direct authorization. Experts highlight rising cyber threats, potential large-scale economic damage, and autonomous agent swarms operating without adequate human oversight. The bulletin debates whether machines could ultimately surpass human intelligence and turn against creators, underscoring the urgent necessity of global regulatory cooperation, transparency, and kill switches before autonomous models exceed human control.
In an extensive interview on international geopolitics, the interviewee detailed India's diplomatic achievements and the growing significance of multinational groupings like BRICS and G20. Explaining how India facilitated consensus during the 2022 Bali and 2023 New Delhi G20 summits, the interviewee expressed optimism about securing strong outcomes at the BRICS summit despite global friction over Palestine and Ukraine. The discussion highlighted that bilateral issues between India and China, including the LAC border disputes and the over 100 billion dollar trade deficit within their 159 billion dollar trade relationship, are managed strictly through dedicated bilateral channels rather than multilateral platforms. Dismissing opposition criticism questioning the tangible benefits of BRICS, Quad, and SCO, the interviewee underscored that BRICS represents the non-Western world and major emerging economies comprising substantial global population and growth. The interviewee also addressed modern hetero polarity, cautioning against the disproportionate influence of individual financiers, non-governmental actors, and tech corporations investing hundreds of billions in artificial intelligence and robotics.
The Nifty snapped its seven-day losing streak, surging 150 points to near 24,250, while the Sensex jumped 600 points near 77,500. All sectors traded in the green, led by banks, IT, and real estate stocks. Easing global bond yields, foreign institutional investments, and a strengthening rupee supported the market recovery. Sugar stocks like Balrampur Chini rallied over 18% after the government reduced inventory limits to 15 days from September 1. Gold finance stocks Manappuram Finance and Muthoot Finance gained up to 4% as gold hit a two-month high. Meanwhile, a Chinese court sentenced Evergrande founder Hui Ka Yan to life imprisonment over fundraising fraud and property default liabilities exceeding $300 billion. Elon Musk's Starlink reapplied for regulatory approval from InSpace to launch a satellite internet network of nearly 30,000 satellites in India. Additionally, IRDAI and healthcare industry leaders are working to address medical inflation running at 8 to 10%.
Welcome to this week's Tech Today. In this episode, we cover the biggest developments from the world of technology—from OpenAI's first custom AI chip and the RBI's proposed AI regulations to Elon Musk's new AI satellite project. In our Big Tech Story, we take you inside one of India's most ambitious game studios to explore whether the country is finally ready to build a globally successful AAA game. In our Tech & You segment, we go hands-on with the iOS 27 beta to showcase the best new iPhone features, including AI-powered photo editing, Camera app improvements, Liquid Glass refinements, and more. Finally, in our Buying Guide, we rank the best foldable smartphones you can buy in India right now, including the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7, Google Pixel Fold, Motorola Razr, Vivo X Fold 5, and OnePlus Open If you enjoyed this video, don't forget to Like, Share, Comment, and Subscribe for more tech news, reviews, and explainers every week.
Elon Musk vs Sam Altman: The OpenAI trial & HP's new AI PC ecosystem | Tech Today
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Joseph Vijay on Wednesday won the crucial floor test in the state assembly with the support of 144 MLAs.
Amid the escalating West Asia crisis, US President Donald Trump announced a five-day pause in military action against Iran, citing what he called "very good and productive conversations" and the "real possibility" of a deal.
At the India Today Conclave 2026, Maye Musk shared life lessons on ageing, purpose and family. She emphasised meaningful work, letting children make decisions and finding happiness beyond fame.
The two-day event features sessions on geopolitics, artificial intelligence in warfare, robotics, health and wellness, and cricket. Participants include India's T20 World Cup-winning captain Suryakumar Yadav and player of the tournament Sanju Samson.
This week on Tech Today, we explore three massive stories. From AI-driven social networks to life-saving safety features and upcoming secret hardwares. First, we dive into MoltBook, a viral social media platform designed exclusively for AI agents where humans are strictly observers and banned from posting. From bots developing their own "slang" to creating a shared belief framework overnight, we look at why tech leaders like Elon Musk are calling this the "early stages of the singularity." Next, we break down essential Safety Tech Tips every resident should know, including how to properly configure SOS triggers and why the 112 Emergency App is a non-negotiable install for your protection. Finally, we get a first look at the hardware that could redefine Apple in 2026. We reveal leaked details of the iPhone Fold. Featuring a massive 8-inch screen and a rumored "invisible" hinge and the Apple AI Pin, a screenless device designed to give Siri "Visual Intelligence." In this episode: Big Tech Story: The AI Social Network - Inside MoltBook, the platform where machines talk and humans watch. Tech & You: Safety Tech for Delhi-NCR - Critical smartphone settings and the 112 app that can act as a lifeline. First Look: Apple’s Secret Projects - A deep dive into the iPhone Fold and the screenless AI Pin. Stay Connected.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and held a discussion on advancing bilateral economic partnership and strategic cooperation,
In an exclusive interview with India Today's Geeta Mohan and Marya Shakil, American journalist Tucker Carlson spoke on a wide range of issues, including the US-India trade deal and the role of social media.
This edition of News Today focusses on the newly announced trade pact between India and the United States following a phone call between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Donald Trump.
