Elon Musk predicts that artificial intelligence will eventually eliminate all jobs, and he believes this might not be a negative outcome.
“Probably none of us will have a job,” Musk stated at a tech conference on Thursday when discussing AI.
Speaking via webcam at VivaTech 2024 in Paris, Musk envisioned a future where working would become “optional.”
“If you want to do a job that’s kinda like a hobby, you can do a job,” Musk explained. “But otherwise, AI and the robots will provide any goods and services that you want.”
For this vision to materialize, Musk suggested the need for “universal high income” – distinct from universal basic income, though he did not elaborate on the specifics. (UBI involves the government providing a set amount of money to everyone regardless of their earnings.)
“There would be no shortage of goods or services,” he added.
AI advancements have accelerated in recent years, leaving regulators, businesses, and consumers grappling with how to use the technology responsibly.
There are growing concerns about the impact on various industries and employment as AI becomes more prevalent.
In January, MIT’s Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Lab reported that AI adoption in workplaces is slower than some anticipated. The report noted that many jobs previously deemed vulnerable to AI automation were not yet economically viable to replace.
Experts generally agree that jobs requiring high emotional intelligence and human interaction, such as mental health professionals, creatives, and teachers, are less likely to be replaced by AI.
Musk has frequently expressed concerns about AI. During his keynote, he called it his biggest fear and referenced the “Culture Book Series” by Ian Banks, a utopian depiction of a society managed by advanced technology, as the most accurate and “the best envisioning of a future AI.”
However, in a future devoid of jobs, Musk questioned whether people would find emotional fulfillment.
“The question will really be one of meaning – if the computer and robots can do everything better than you, does your life have meaning?” he pondered. “I do think there’s perhaps still a role for humans in this – in that we may give AI meaning.”
Musk also advised parents to limit their children’s exposure to social media because “they’re being programmed by a dopamine-maximizing AI.”
