Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, predicts that jobs will become ‘kinda like a hobby’ as AI takes over.
Known for his intense work ethic, including sleeping on factory floors to meet deadlines, Musk envisions a future where careers are optional.
During the VivaTech conference in Paris, Musk said AI and robotics could revolutionize the workforce.
He said: “In a benign scenario, probably none of us will have a job.”
He explained such a scenario would entail universal high income and an abundance of goods and services provided by AI and robots.
This vision suggests that work will become more of a choice or hobby than a necessity.
Musk, whose net worth is currently $187 billion according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, is actively developing AI systems at Tesla and through his 2023 startup, xAI.
“If a computer and the robots can do everything better than you, does your life have meaning?”
Despite his concerns about the potential risks of advanced AI, Musk remains hopeful about its positive impact.
He believes there is an 80 percent chance that the benign scenario will prevail, where access to goods and services is plentiful.
Musk said: “The question will really be one of meaning.
“If a computer and the robots can do everything better than you, does your life have meaning?”
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This reflects a broader societal concern about the role of humans in a highly automated future.
A PwC survey of over 54,000 people last year found 13 percent believe AI will replace them, while 18 percent think they will need to acquire new skills.
Despite these concerns, many employees are optimistic, with a third expecting AI to enhance their efficiency and 21 percent believing it will create new career opportunities.
Musk predicts that jobs will become optional.
Appearing via video link at the Paris conference, he stated, “Long term … any job that somebody does will be optional.
“If you want to do a job as kinda like a hobby you can do a job, but otherwise the AI and robots will provide any goods and services you want.”
While Musk did not specify when this future might arrive, his message suggests that traditional work remains necessary for now.
However, he reassured that humans could still play a crucial role in giving AI purpose, likening the relationship to how the human cortex tries to satisfy the limbic system.
