Elon Musk Predicts Work May Become ‘Optional’ Within Two Decades. Reason: AI

Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla and founder of xAI, has made a bold prediction that artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics will advance to a point where work becomes optional for most people within the next 10 to 20 years. Musk believes that AI and humanoid robots will reshape society so dramatically that they will eliminate poverty and make money "irrelevant".

Musk shared his vision at the U.S.-Saudi Investment Forum in Washington, D.C., on November 19, 2025, where he spoke alongside Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang. When asked about the long-term impacts of AI and robotics on the workforce, Musk stated, "My prediction is that work will be optional". He envisions a future where pursuing a job is akin to engaging in sports or playing a video game – a matter of personal choice and enjoyment rather than a necessity for survival.

Musk illustrated his point by comparing work to growing vegetables. "It'll be like playing sports or a video game... If you want to work in the same way, like you can go to the store and just buy some vegetables, or you could grow vegetables in your backyard," he said. He acknowledged that growing one's own food is more challenging, yet some people do it because they enjoy it. In Musk's vision, work will become a similar pursuit—optional, and driven by passion rather than need.

Musk anticipates that AI and robots will not only replace jobs but also drive down the cost of goods and services to near-zero, effectively eradicating poverty. He stated that AI and humanoid robots will eliminate poverty, adding that while Tesla will be a pioneer in the sector, there will be "many other companies that make humanoid robots". He sees humanoid robots becoming the "biggest industry or the biggest product ever, bigger than cellphones or anything else, because everyone's going to want one".

Musk also suggested that the continued advancement of AI and robotics could lead to a future where money itself becomes obsolete. He noted that in many utopian science fiction scenarios involving advanced AI, currency no longer exists. "My guess is, if you go out long enough, assuming there's a continued improvement in AI and robotics, which seems likely, then money will stop being relevant at some point in the future," Musk said. He clarified that physical constraints like power, electricity, and mass would still exist.

While Musk paints an optimistic picture, he acknowledges that significant effort is required to reach this point. He has also previously cautioned about the potential dangers of AI, predicting that AI could surpass human intelligence within the next few years.

Musk's predictions have sparked debate, with some experts and the public expressing concerns about potential job losses and the concentration of power in the hands of a few corporations or governments. Others question how people will find fulfillment and meaning in a world without work. Despite these concerns, Musk remains confident that AI and robotics hold the key to unlocking a future of abundance and optional work.