Elon Musk engaged in a conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, firmly rebutting allegations of antisemitism directed at him. During a live-streamed discussion at Tesla’s facility in Fremont, California, Musk stated, “Obviously I’m against antisemitism. I’m against anti-anything that promotes hate and conflict.”
The dialogue comes amid Musk’s ongoing dispute with the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), a Jewish civil rights organization that Musk contends has negatively impacted X’s advertising revenue. The ADL has pointed out an increase in extremist content on the platform following Musk’s acquisition last year, which included significant staff reductions. Earlier this month, Musk threatened legal action against the ADL and has shown support for posts on X utilizing the “BantheADL” hashtag.
Netanyahu expressed his hope that Musk would find ways to mitigate antisemitism and hate speech within the bounds of the First Amendment, acknowledging the complexities of such an endeavor.
Musk noted the vast volume of content on X, stating that “on any given day, there are 100 million to 200 million posts,” and while policing this content in advance is challenging, he emphasized taking measures to “deamplify” hate speech. “We’re not going to promote hate speech because probably that’s not what people are going to want to hear,” he added.
Netanyahu’s visit to Silicon Valley comes just before the United Nations General Assembly in New York, as he seeks to persuade prominent tech leaders that he is not a pariah amid ongoing political upheaval in Israel. His reputation as a pro-business figure has suffered due to his attempts to reform Israel’s judiciary, which have ignited widespread protests supported by many tech entrepreneurs in the country.
Coinciding with Netanyahu’s visit, a demonstration was held by Israeli tech workers in the Bay Area to oppose his judicial reforms. Several hundred protesters gathered at both the airport and his hotel, chanting “shame” and “democracy” as the prime minister passed by in his motorcade.
During his extensive discussion with Musk, Netanyahu asserted that Israel “was, is and always will be a robust democracy,” but indicated he would pursue reforms in the way judges are appointed. He described the nation’s judiciary as “the most activist” globally and expressed his desire to find a “happy middle” to limit its influence.
AI Disruption
The prime minister’s meeting with Musk was part of a day focused on artificial intelligence, during which he aimed to highlight Israel’s capabilities in the field. His itinerary included a tour of a Tesla factory and a test drive in an autonomous vehicle. As he boarded his plane in Tel Aviv, Netanyahu spoke to reporters about his efforts to attract investment from Musk in Israel’s AI startup scene.
Investors Stand by Israel’s Tech Startups, for Now
Before the meeting, an Israeli official traveling with Netanyahu downplayed tensions between Musk and the Israeli government, clarifying that the planning for this discussion began prior to the recent antisemitism controversy. The official also stated that Netanyahu does not believe Musk holds antisemitic views.
When Netanyahu inquired about how Musk planned to address the issue of “armies of bots” amplifying hate speech on X, Musk proposed that the platform might transition to a small monthly subscription model.
“This is a super tough problem,” he said, labeling it the “single most important reason” for the change. Musk explained that bots currently incur minimal costs under X’s free and paid systems, but a subscription fee would significantly increase the cost of operating bots, thereby discouraging their proliferation.
In a subsequent round-table discussion on AI, OpenAI co-founder and President Greg Brockman expressed that the startup has prioritized user privacy over the rush to deploy technology rapidly.
“What the market actually pushes us against is when it comes into conflict with other values, for example, privacy,” Brockman noted.
Brockman added that when OpenAI initially launched its API for its GPT models, the plan was to track and record all interactions for future reference if issues arose, but he acknowledged that users were resistant to this approach. “People hate that,” he remarked. “You kind of want that for everyone else, but for yourself you want privacy.”
Following the release of a ChatGPT version for businesses in August, OpenAI promoted its commitment to privacy safeguards, emphasizing data encryption and a pledge that user data would not be used to enhance its technology.
Netanyahu and Musk’s relationship has been established since 2018, when the Israeli prime minister welcomed the SpaceX founder to his residence in Jerusalem. They have maintained communication, sharing insights on the potential impacts and risks of artificial intelligence. Netanyahu’s spokesperson, Topaz Luk, indicated that the two have discussed emerging technologies several times over the phone.
During their recent conversation, Netanyahu voiced concerns that uncontrolled artificial intelligence could threaten democracy, manipulate opinions, and even lead to criminal enterprises or conflicts. He announced plans to formulate Israel’s AI policy in the near future.
© 2023 Bloomberg LP
