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Questions remain about Elon Musk’s ability to turn around the social media giant.Credit:FDC

“I’m guessing toward the end of this year should be a good timing to find someone else to run the company,” the 51-year-old said. “I think it should be in stable condition around the end of this year.”

Since taking over in October,Musk has said that he plans tostep aside at some point,but had never specified when. The billionaire executive embarked on a search for a new CEO for Twitter in December,a person familiar with the search said at the time. In the meantime,his lack of presence at Tesla has drawn the ire of some investors,who have called on him to pay more attention to the electric-vehicle maker.

The CEO of Tesla,Twitter and Space Exploration Technologies said the two manufacturing businesses were better positioned now than before. SpaceX is “able to make a lot of progress even if I spend less time there,” he said,while Tesla demands less time now than it did a few years ago.

“Tesla went through some very difficult times where it was on the ragged edge of survival,” Musk said. “It does require much less work to operate Tesla now,versus say in the 2017 to 2019 timeframe.”

Musk committed to handing off the reins to Twitter after runninga poll of his followers in December. Close to 60 per cent were in favour of him stepping down,motivated in part by concern about him being distracted from Tesla. At the time,he said it was a matter of finding “someone foolish enough to take the job”.

Still,Musk has a track record of missing his own deadlines and promised delivery times,including for new products such as the cybertruck or software capabilities such as fully autonomous driving.

Musk was interviewed virtually by Mohammad Abdullah Al Gergawi,the United Arab Emirates’ minister of cabinet affairs who is chairman of the summit. Musk took Twitter private in a $US44 billion ($64 billion) deal,and is the world’s second-richest man with a personal fortune of $US187 billion,according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.

At the summit,Musk described Twitter as “still somewhat of a start-up in reverse”. Lots of work is needed to get Twitter to a “stable position”,he said.

Musk,who is known to have slept in the Tesla factory during particularly demanding periods,said he works seven days a week and sleeps six hours a night. Work typically occupies him from the moment he wakes until he goes to bed,he said.

“It’s not my intention to work like crazy,” he said. “A mere 80-hour working week would be fine. That is what I would aspire to.”

Musk spoke broadly about his vision for Twitter and his efforts to rid the platform of misinformation. He said he wanted Twitter to be a source of truth and he encouraged companies,other CEOs and ministers to speak authentically,even if it draws attacks.

“Having some criticism is fine,” he said. “It’s really not that bad. I’m constantly attacked on Twitter. I don’t mind.”

Asked whether he limited social-media usage for his children,Musk said,“I haven’t tried to restrict social media from my kids,but that may have been a mistake.”

Moments after the interview,Musk was back tweeting to his almost 130 million followers.

Bloomberg

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