LinkedIn co-founder: Elon Musk has a "serious conflict of interest" in guiding the new Trump administration on AI policy

LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman said in a recent column in the Financial Times that Elon Musk's advisory role could create a serious conflict of interest if he provides guidance on artificial intelligence law to the new Trump administration. He wrote: "Elon Musk directly owns the emerging artificial intelligence startup xAI, and he advises Trump in many areas, but has a serious conflict of interest in setting federal artificial intelligence policy for all American companies. Using his position to support xAI in any way, such as awarding it government contracts, encouraging federal agencies to unfairly target artificial intelligence companies, or implementing new regulations restricting exports, will be at the expense of American technological, economic and cultural security and competitiveness." Musk did not respond to a request for comment. Hours after the Financial Times published the column, Musk responded to an X post unrelated to Hoffman's column, criticizing the poster on LinkedIn.