'Religious extremism' could trigger World War III at any time, says Elon Musk

SpaceX is the first private company to resupply the International Space Station

BILLIONAIRE Elon Musk – CEO of luxury electric car firm Tesla and private rocket manufacturer SpaceX – believes a third World War could erupt at any time.

 

World War III could erupt at any time, technology entrepreneur Elon Musk has claimed.

The billionaire businessman – who started SpaceX, Tesla Motors and the HyperLoop project – believes the "growth of religious extremism" could trigger a third World War.

Mr Musk has previously spoken out about the dangers of artificial intelligence and how the increasingly clever technology could spell the end of humanity.

But now the Tesla CEO believes the world could find itself locked in a nuclear World War "far worse than anything that's happened before."

 

SpaceX is the first private company to resupply the International Space Station

Mr Musk believes World War III could thwart his plans to send a manned mission to Mars within the next 15 years.

He told GQ Magazine: "You know, in 1912 they were proclaiming a new age of peace and prosperity, saying that it was a golden age, war was over.

"And then you had World War I followed by World War II followed by the Cold War.

 

SpaceX uses a 208ft Falcon 9 rocket to resupply the International Space Station

"So I think we need to acknowledge that there's certainly a possibility of a third World War, and if that does occur it could be far worse than anything that's happened before.

"Let's say nuclear weapons are used. I mean, there could be a very powerful social movement that's anti-technology.

"There's also growth in religious extremism. Like, I mean, does ISIS grow?"

SpaceX founder Elon Musk made the comments during an interview about his plans to colonise Mars.

 

The 44-year-old billionaire wants SpaceX to complete a crewed mission to the planet within the next 10 to 15 years.

He told GQ that the mission – which could eventually establish a colony on the Red Planet – is critical to ensure the long-term survival of mankind.

Details of the Mars mission, dubbed Mars Colonisation Transport programme, will be announced early 2016, Mr Musk has confirmed.

He said: "I think it's gonna seem pretty crazy, no matter what. It's really big. 

"There's not been any architecture like this described that I'm aware of."