The ongoing feud between Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk has taken a new turn, with the Facebook founder accepting the Tesla CEO’s challenge to a physical confrontation. Initially calling Zuckerberg out over potential biases when it comes to the risks and benefits of artificial intelligence, Musk has now gained a response from the Facebook chief, with the two engaging in what might be described as a sort of high-tech, Silicon Valley staredown.
The Challenge
Earlier this week, Musk called Zuckerberg out, accusing the Facebook CEO of bias in his position on artificial intelligence. In response, Zuckerberg claimed to be unfamiliar with any such position, prompting Musk to suggest a physical confrontation between the two, in the form of a ‘cage match.’
“I’ve been quite clear actually about my thoughts on ARTICLEDATING Continues Below
ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW AI fearmongering,” Musk says in the Instagram video in which he issues the challenge. “I really just want to hear what Mark thinks, and I really think that’s important. If somebody knows something, I would really appreciate it if they would educate me before [I] make mistakes.”
Zuckerberg's Response
Now Zuckerberg has issued a response of his own – an answer of yes to Musk’s challenge.
“Elon, I hear you’re ready to make a bet. What do you say to a public debate with me on this?” Zuckerberg writes, before following that up with, “Of course, if you’re too scared to debate me, you could always pay me…”
Indeed, Zuckerberg’s acceptance of the challenge has been accompanied by a renewed call for the Tesla CEO to pay up on previous bets between the two regarding the future valuation of Facebook and Tesla. So far, Musk has made no sign of having paid up, but with Zuckerberg accepting his challenge to a physical confrontation, the feud between the two tech moguls has gained even more traction.
It’s easy to brush the whole thing off as a joke, but the cage match proposal certainly captured the attention of the tech industry and the public alike. Both Zuckerberg and Musk are well known figures in the world of technology, and have large followings for their public presence on social media.
While the whole thing might be purely a promotional stunt, it nevertheless highlights the industry’s passion and competitiveness. For now, however, it remains to be seen whether the cage match will become a reality or if it will fizzle out as just another chapter in the ongoing feud between Zuckerberg and Musk.
The Ongoing Feud
The feud itself has been ongoing, with the two public figures trading jabs through social media for some time. While it’s unclear whether the fight will become a reality, the rivalry between Zuckerberg and Musk continues to generate buzz, sparking speculation and debate about who would come out on top in a physical confrontation between the two billionaires.
Original coverage of the cage match follows below:
AUGUST 10–The Elon Musk vs. Mark Zuckerberg feud is about to get even wilder, as the Tesla CEO has issued Zuckerberg a rather bold challenge. In an Instagram post, Musk proposes a “cage match” between the two billionaires, putting all their money on the table in front of a live audience.
The feud between Zuckerberg and Musk continues to unfold. Earlier, we reported on how the Facebook CEO accused Musk of being “irresponsible” when it comes to the potential risks artificial intelligence poses to humanity. In response, Musk claimed that Zuckerberg had “produced [no] research” to justify that position, and suggested that Zuck should visit the AI Research lab owned by Facebook to learn more about the subject.
Musk originally upped the stakes of the dispute by challenging Zuckerberg to break off a piece of Facebook stock, placing it at its current valuation and hoping that his own net wealth would grow until their bets are settled.
The Tesla CEO has now issued a much bolder challenge, however, suggesting a one-on-one fight between him and Zuckerberg, in a “cage match.” While the Tesla CEO seemingly finds nothing wrong with throwing a physical scuffle between billionaire CEOs, he attempts to justify the uncouth method of settling disputes by saying, “If [you] really care about the world, [you] should participate in public debates.”
“You talk about the risk of AI, and yet your work on artificial intelligence scares you so much you think you might carry a torch for a face,” Musk taunts Zuckerberg.
