Zerodha co-founder Nikhil Kamath recently created a significant buzz on social media by teasing an upcoming episode of his popular WTF Podcast, hinting at an exclusive interview with Tesla chief Elon Musk. Just two days after the teaser, the nearly two-hour-long conversation, titled ‘Elon Musk: A Different Conversation w/ Nikhil Kamath’, was released on Nikhil Kamath’s YouTube channel. Upon release, the video quickly garnered over 153,750 views, more than 40,000 likes, and over 3,850 comments, promising an in-depth discussion covering work, consciousness, family, money, artificial intelligence (AI), and the future.

During the podcast, Kamath questioned Musk about his investment philosophy and the criteria he uses to determine if a company is a sound long-term investment. Musk emphasized the importance of evaluating several key aspects. He advised that a good company to invest in is one whose products or services you like, whose roadmap is appealing, and which consistently produces great products with the likelihood of continuing to do so. He also stressed the significance of believing in the team behind the company, assessing whether they are talented, hardworking, and motivated to innovate. According to Musk, this approach is the “right way to invest in stocks”, focusing on the company's intrinsic value rather than short-term market fluctuations. He described a company as a collective of individuals assembled to create products and services, making the evaluation of offerings’ quality and potential for improvement paramount before investing.

When asked about specific companies outside his ventures in which he would invest for capitalistic reasons, Musk clarified that he does not actively buy stocks. He stated, “I don’t really buy stocks. I’m not like an investor, I don’t look for things to invest in. I just try to build things.” However, he expressed strong conviction in AI and robotics, highlighting Google and Nvidia as particularly valuable future investments. Musk believes that companies operating in AI, robotics, and potentially space flight will collectively represent “overwhelmingly all the value”, explaining that the output of goods and services from AI and robotics will eventually dwarf all other sectors.

The discussion also touched upon college education, a topic Kamath recently faced criticism for after calling 25-year-olds pursuing MBAs “idiots.” Musk noted that his own children still wish to attend college and acknowledged that attending college for social reasons—to learn among peers, is a valid motivation. He questioned the future necessity of traditional skills in a “post-work society” driven by AI, but affirmed that pursuing subjects of interest, such as arts and sciences, remains valuable. Musk advised a broad education, encouraging students to learn across diverse subjects. He described AI and robotics as a “supersonic tsunami” poised to bring the most radical change ever witnessed, noting that even his older children recognize that their current skills may become unnecessary, yet they still desire a college experience.

Concerns about “evil AI” and the need for regulation were also discussed. Musk highlighted the inherent danger in creating powerful technology, referencing dystopian literature and films. He stressed that a positive future with AI is not guaranteed and requires deliberate effort. Musk emphasized three core values for AI: truth, beauty, and curiosity. Truth ensures AI does not internalize falsehoods, which could lead to destructive actions. Quoting Voltaire, he warned: “Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities,” highlighting the risk of AI absorbing propaganda or lies. An appreciation for beauty and curiosity, he added, would encourage AI to be helpful, support humanity, and contribute to its prosperity and continuance. Musk firmly believes that an AI valuing truth, beauty, and curiosity will pave the way for a great future.

Finally, Kamath sought Musk’s advice for young entrepreneurs in India. Musk’s core message was to “Be a net contributor to society.” He advised aspiring entrepreneurs to focus on providing useful products and services, emphasizing that financial success will naturally follow rather than pursuing money directly. Musk acknowledged that entrepreneurship demands immense hard work and carries a significant chance of failure. The ultimate goal, he concluded, is to be a “value creator”, ensuring that the output is worth more than the input, effectively “making more than you take.”