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Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis questioned Elon Musk’s political influence and his ability to ensure the safe development of artificial intelligence (AI), during a discussion with noted Greek-American photographer Platon at the Benaki Museum in central Athens on Wednesday.

Speaking at the opening of Platon’s retrospective exhibition, “People Power,” Mitsotakis questioned whether the world’s wealthiest individuals should be allowed to exercise such influence over democratic processes, citing Musk’s reported spending of approximately US$440 million to support political campaigns in the United States.

“Is it ethical for the richest man on the planet to spend $440 million to finance an election campaign?” he asked, adding: “You cannot buy an election, no matter how rich you are.”

The prime minister also expressed reservations about relying on Musk to ensure the responsible development of AI, referring to the entrepreneur’s leadership of major technology companies, including Tesla and SpaceX.

Drawing a comparison with aviation safety, Mitsotakis said that when an aircraft develops a technical problem, its manufacturer keeps it grounded until the fault is identified and corrected. He argued that comparable safeguards and oversight mechanisms are needed for AI.

“We have created one of humanity’s greatest technological achievements, but we have no one to safeguard it and are expecting Elon Musk to do so. Will he do it properly? I have my doubts,” he said.

Platon, meanwhile, suggested that human connection could become the most valuable commodity over the next five to 10 years, as technology increasingly mediates everyday interactions.

Mitsotakis’ remarks build on earlier criticism of the growing political influence of wealthy technology entrepreneurs. In January 2025, he warned that powerful economic actors were increasingly seeking to shape public opinion, raising concerns about the implications for Western democratic institutions.