Elon Musk says humans are ‘pre-programmed to die’ and longevity is ‘solvable’

54 years old Tesla the boss apparently sees longevity simply as a problem to be overcome — and one that is « not particularly difficult » to solve, he said in an interview Moonshots with Peter Diamandis podcast last week.

« You’re pre-programmed to die. And if you change the program, you’ll live longer, » he said.

Take, for example, the fact that every part of the body ages in sync, he argued. There must be something behind this kind of synchronization – something that can be recognized and possibly changed.

« When you think about the fact that your body is very synchronized as you age, the clock must be incredibly obvious, » he said. « No one has an old left arm and a young right arm. Why is that? What keeps them all in sync? »

In fact, synchronous aging involves several biological factors, including genetics and hormones that help synchronize aging in different tissues, according to researchers.

The future of medicine

Musk’s comment comes at a time when artificial intelligence and robotics are blurring the lines between medicine and technology. As part of this revolution, humanoid robots may replace human surgeons, and at the same time raise medical care in five years to a much better state than what is currently available, Musk claimed.

Automation and robotics have already changed healthcare, Musk added, referring to the LASIK procedure, which uses a computer-controlled laser to reshape a person’s eyes and improve vision.

« I wouldn’t want the best ophthalmologist with the steadiest hand with a handheld laser in my eyeball. That’s going to be it, » Musk said.

While human surgeons take years to acquire the necessary experience and skills, humanoid robots like Tesla’s Optimus could potentially do a better job without the risk of human error.

« Everybody has access to medical care that’s better than what the president is getting right now, » he said.

To be sure, Musk’s confidence in extending life is at odds with his long-standing discomfort with the social consequences of extended lifespans. Unlike some of his fellow billionaires who have poured millions into longevity-focused startups, Musk has previously said that “rather dead” than living to be 100 years old with dementia or a burden on society.

« If we live too long, it would think society – leadership will not happen because leadership never dies, » he quoth.