Sanders Takes Direct Aim at Musk's Utopian Vision
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) isn't buying what Tesla Inc. (TSLA) CEO Elon Musk is selling when it comes to an AI-powered paradise. In a video posted Thursday on X, Sanders posed some pointed questions about Musk's grand vision for artificial intelligence and robotics transforming society.
"Just a couple of questions for you," Sanders captioned the video, before launching into a direct challenge of Musk's utopian promises. According to Sanders, Musk has claimed that poverty will be wiped out and work will become optional. He's talked about "universal high income" for everyone. Sounds great, right?
But Sanders wants to know the practical details. "How will this utopia come about?" the Senator asked, zeroing in on what happens when entry-level jobs vanish from the market. If robots are taking over manufacturing positions, when exactly will factory workers receive their promised free housing? And what about free healthcare?
"I look forward to hearing about how you and your other oligarch friends are going to provide working people with the magnificent life that you promise," Sanders said in the video. He also criticized President Donald Trump for doubling insurance premiums for millions and ongoing SNAP benefit problems.
The Latest Round in an Ongoing Battle
This isn't the first time these two have clashed. Sanders and Musk recently got into a heated social media exchange after Sanders called for a moratorium on AI datacenter construction. Musk's response? He called Sanders a coward who lacked "any sense of adventure."
Sanders has been consistently vocal about his concerns regarding new datacenter development, warning that the tech industry's AI push threatens jobs, democracy, and public resources. He's not alone in his skepticism, either. Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) has backed Sanders' position, saying that despite representing Silicon Valley, he believes AI technology should benefit workers rather than "tech barons."
Tesla's Valuation Soars While Sales Stumble
Meanwhile, Tesla recently hit a total valuation of $1.58 trillion, cementing its position as the world's most valuable automaker and leaving competitors like Toyota Motor Corp. (TM) far behind.
But here's the disconnect: while Tesla's market cap continues climbing, actual sales tell a different story. November U.S. sales dropped a steep 23%, reflecting challenges from President Donald Trump's anti-EV policy shifts, including relaxed CAFE standards.
From a technical perspective, Tesla scores well on momentum metrics and offers satisfactory quality and growth characteristics, though value remains poor. The stock shows favorable price trends across short, medium, and long-term timeframes.
Price Action: TSLA shares climbed 3.45% to close at $483.37, then added another 0.28% in after-hours trading to reach $484.70.