NEXT YEAR BECOMES MAYBE 2026 AND INSIDERS ARE SIDE EYEING
Elon Musk is once again lighting up the rumor mill with another bold AGI prediction. This time he is telling people close to him that artificial general intelligence could arrive by 2026. The claim comes from a fresh Business Insider report that has tech insiders talking fast. Many are pointing out that this sounds very familiar to what he said last year. The timing has people checking calendars and raising eyebrows.
Back in 2024, Musk confidently said AGI would arrive the following year. That statement came during a public exchange with Google AI Studio head Logan Kilpatrick. Kilpatrick responded with a cautious Big if true, and insiders say that comment now feels prophetic. As 2025 winds down, AGI has yet to show up. Sources say the revised timeline feels more like a reset than a breakthrough.
Veteran Silicon Valley watchers say this is classic Musk behavior. Big ideas are announced early and often with maximum confidence. When deadlines slip, the vision stays the same but the date moves. Insiders say the strategy keeps attention locked on Musk and his companies. And attention in tech is almost as valuable as results.
FOLLOW THE MONEY AND THE AGI HYPE MAKES SENSE
Sources close to the situation say there is a clear reason AGI keeps coming up. The promise of world changing AI keeps investors interested and wallets open. According to the report, Musk told xAI staff that funding is pouring in at a massive scale. The numbers being discussed range from twenty to thirty billion dollars per year. That kind of money turns predictions into powerful marketing.
Insiders also remember Musk’s dramatic warnings about AI back in 2023. He publicly supported a call to pause AI development due to existential risk. Less than a month later, it came out that he was quietly building his own AI company. By mid 2023, xAI was official and Grok entered the chat. Sources say the concern about AI danger cooled quickly once Musk had his own stake.
People close to the industry say Musk’s tone on AGI often depends on his position in the race. When others are ahead, AI is risky and scary. When his companies are catching up, AGI is suddenly close and exciting. Insiders describe it as hype with a purpose. And the purpose is momentum.
ROBOTS AUTO REPLIES AND THE NEXT BIG PROMISE
The drama does not stop with predictions and funding. When reporters reached out to xAI for comment, they were met with an automatic reply that read Legacy Media Lies. Musk’s contempt for traditional press is well known among insiders. This is the same executive who once used a poop emoji as an automated response. Sources say it is part of his brand at this point.
Meanwhile, Musk is already pushing the next futuristic vision. He has predicted that Tesla will produce one million humanoid Optimus robots per year within five years. He has even suggested these robots could handle tasks like childcare. Insiders say the technology is far from that level today. But the promise alone keeps people watching closely.
There is also another ticking clock that has people talking. In October, Musk told Joe Rogan he would demonstrate a flying car by the end of the year. Sources say expectations are mixed and skepticism is high. Some believe something flashy will appear, even if it is just a prototype. With Musk, insiders say the show is always part of the plan.