Elon Musk says it's 'highly likely' humans figure out how to reverse aging — but there's 'some benefit to death'

Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, has expressed optimism about the potential for humans to reverse aging. During a discussion with BlackRock CEO Larry Fink at the World Economic Forum, Musk described aging as a "very solvable problem." He emphasized that once the underlying causes of aging are understood, the solutions will likely be straightforward. Musk pointed out that the aging process affects all cells uniformly, stating, "I've never seen someone with an old left arm and a young right arm in my life," suggesting that there is a synchronized biological clock governing the aging of approximately 35 trillion cells in the human body. However, he also acknowledged the complexities that come with significantly extended lifespans. Musk remarked, "There is some benefit to death," noting that if people lived much longer, society might become stagnant or 'ossified.' He warned that this could lead to a lack of vibrancy and innovation within communities. Despite these concerns, Musk remains confident that advances in life extension and possibly reversing the aging process are highly likely. This engaging dialogue marked Musk's first appearance on stage at the World Economic Forum, where he previously expressed disinterest in the event. The forum, held in Davos, Switzerland, has brought together numerous global leaders, including political figures and business magnates, to discuss pressing global issues. As the forum progresses, discussions continue to cover a variety of themes, including economic challenges and international relations, highlighting the interconnectedness of global economies.