Elon Musk's AI chatbot, Grok, suggested seven ways a Donald Trump loss in 2024 could affect the tech CEO's world.
As one of Trump's more high profile supporters, SpaceX CEO Musk has been vocal in his praise for the Republican presidential nominee, joined him on several rallies, poured millions into a pro-Trump super PAC, and held townhalls encouraging people to vote for him.
In the event of Trump losing the 2024 U.S. presidential election, Newsweek asked Musk's own generative AI chatbot Grok what the potential impact might be for the Tesla CEO, given how invested he appears in a Republican win.
Grok came up with an answer across seven distinct categories: political and business relationships, public perception and brand, economic policies, regulatory environment, social media influence, investment climate, and personal and professional network.
Newsweek reached out to Elon Musk via email for comment.
Musk's Political and Business Relationships
Grok tackled Musk's potential government position, which Trump has previously promised the SpaceX CEO, saying: "Speculation about Musk potentially joining a Trump administration might end, affecting his direct influence over U.S. policy, especially in areas like space, technology, and environmental regulations."
In terms of policy impact, Grok said that "without Trump's appointees, policies favorable to Musk's businesses, like Tesla and SpaceX, might see a shift. For instance, changes in EV subsidies, space policy, or regulatory approaches to innovation could be altered under a different administration."
Public Perception and the Tesla Brand
"Musk's endorsement of Trump could have mixed effects on his brand, depending on how the public views Trump's loss. Some might see Musk's alignment with Trump positively, while others might view it negatively, potentially affecting Tesla's brand image or consumer behavior," suggested Grok.
"Musk's involvement in political discourse has been both a point of branding and criticism. If Trump loses, there might be a shift in how Musk's political engagement is perceived," added Grok.
"There could be pressure or an opportunity for Musk to either distance himself from political commentary or pivot his public persona towards a more apolitical business leader image, potentially affecting his brand as either more or less aligned with public sentiment."
Economic Policies Might Not Be in Musk's Favor
"Trump's policies on trade, particularly tariffs, have been beneficial for some of Musk's businesses due to protectionism. A change in these policies could impact Tesla's competitiveness, especially in markets where trade policies are a significant factor," said Grok.
"SpaceX has benefited from significant government contracts. A new administration might prioritize different projects or companies, potentially affecting SpaceX's revenue stream from government sources."
A Changing Regulatory Environment?
Musk has often criticized overregulation, a stance that resonates with Trump's policies.
Grok posited that "a change in administration could mean a shift towards more regulatory oversight, potentially impacting industries Musk is involved in like electric vehicles, space travel, and renewable energy."
"A more progressive administration might push for stricter environmental regulations or labor laws, which could increase costs for Tesla but could also align with Musk's stated goals for sustainability, if approached with the right incentives," said Grok.
The Future of X
"Given Musk's ownership of X (formerly Twitter), his platform has been a tool for political engagement and influence. Depending on the new administration's stance on social media regulation, internet freedom, or content moderation, Musk's freedom to shape public discourse might either be curtailed or expanded," said Grok.
His own significant influence on the platform "could see changes based on political shifts. If a Democratic win leads to policy changes affecting social media, like further regulations on misinformation or changes in how political content is handled, Musk's ability to influence through these platforms might be altered."
Investment Climate After a Republican Loss
"Musk's businesses thrive in an environment where investors are optimistic about tech and space industries. If Trump's loss leads to a shift in investor confidence or market conditions due to policy changes, this could affect funding for Musk's ventures," said Grok.
"Investors often react to political changes, especially in sectors sensitive to policy shifts," Grok pointed out.
"If investors perceive that a Trump loss leads to policies less favorable for Musk's businesses, there might be a temporary dip in stock prices or a shift in investment focus, although long-term impacts would depend on actual policy implementations."
Personal and Professional Network
Musk's network might see shifts, speculates Grok.
"His association with Trump could alienate him from parts of the tech community or international leaders who might have different political leanings, affecting partnerships or business opportunities abroad," said Grok.
"These impacts would largely depend on the specifics of how the new administration positions itself on various issues, the economic climate following the election, and how Musk adapts his strategies in response to these changes. However, Musk's history suggests he's adept at navigating political and economic shifts, potentially mitigating adverse impacts through innovation or strategic pivots."
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