I don't think they are so capable actors to do it on purpose.

I think they really believe what they are saying because people in such position tend to be strong believers into something and that something happens to be the "it" thing at the moment and thus propels them from rags to riches, (or in Musk case further propels them towards even more riches).

Let's be honest here, what's Sam Altman without AI? What's Fauci without COVID, what's Trump without the collective paranoia that got him elected?