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Why Mars? Buy measles vaccine instead: Bill Gates slams Elon Musk's vision

 



• Bill Gates takes a jibe at Elon Musk, says going to Mars was not a 'good use of money'

Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates has questioned Elon Musk's dream of establishing a human colony on Mars. In an interview with the BBC, Gates said that going to Mars was not a "good use of money".

He said that instead of sending people to Mars, funding the development of a vaccine is a better use of the cash.

"Getting to Mars is actually quite expensive," he said. "You can buy the measles vaccine and save a thousand dollars a life saved."

"It grounds you. Don't go to Mars".

Asked whether Musk's current priorities would make him a good 'philanthropist'. Gates responded by saying that he does not think Musk is currently one, but that may change in the future.

Gates praised Musk's electric car vision and Tesla. He said, "Things like Tesla are having a positive impact, even if there is no form of philanthropy. I think someday he will use his ingenuity to join the ranks of philanthropists."

Musk and Gates have had differences in the past.

Last year, Musk turned down Gates' offer to cooperate with philanthropic efforts to combat climate change. A leaked text also surfaced to the media between the two billionaires in which Musk told Gates that he "can't take him seriously when you have a massive position against Tesla".

Musk asked Gates if selling Tesla short meant betting that the electric carmaker's stock price would fall.

In a 2021 Bloomberg interview, Gates said he wished he was "more on the long side" of Tesla when asked about Musk's claims.

Gates further stated that he believes artificial intelligence will change humanity "quite dramatically".

"It will help us look into medical and scientific questions. It is not just a robot, it is also helping to read and write," he said.

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