Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has said that people may not need to work for a living in the next 10 to 20 years, as artificial intelligence (AI) and robots become powerful enough to do most jobs currently done by humans.
According to Musk, rapid progress in AI and robotics will change the way the world produces goods and services. Machines will be able to perform both physical and mental tasks better and faster than humans. As a result, work may no longer be necessary for survival and could instead become a matter of personal choice.
Musk explained that in the future, people might work only if they enjoy it or find meaning in it. He compared work to hobbies such as playing sports, gardening, or gaming—activities people do for pleasure, not because they have to earn money. “Work will be optional,” he said, adding that jobs could become something people choose to do for satisfaction rather than income.
Musk has also suggested that traditional ideas about money may change. If machines produce almost everything, people may not need regular jobs to meet their basic needs. He has previously spoken about the idea of a “universal high income,” where everyone receives enough support to live comfortably, even without working.
A key part of Musk’s vision is the use of advanced robots, including Tesla’s humanoid robot Optimus. These robots, combined with smart AI systems, could handle manufacturing, services, transportation, and many other tasks. This, he believes, would lead to a world of abundance, where goods and services are easily available and cheap to produce.
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