Tech entrepreneur Elon Musk has shared a bold vision for the future of work, predicting that within the next two decades, most people may no longer need to work. Speaking on a podcast hosted by Indian entrepreneur and Zerodha co-founder Nikhil Kamath, Musk stated that rapid advances in artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics will make human labor largely optional.
“My prediction is in less than 20 years, working will be optional. Working at all will be optional. Like a hobby,” Musk said during the discussion.
When Kamath asked if this shift would be driven by higher productivity and machines taking over essential tasks, Musk confirmed that machines would indeed handle the majority of work, leaving humans free to choose whether to work or pursue other interests. He compared the future of work to growing vegetables at home: “People can still grow food in their garden because they enjoy it, but they don’t have to, as they can simply buy vegetables from a store.”
Musk acknowledged that his prediction might be questioned in the future, humorously noting that people might replay the podcast 20 years from now and claim he was wrong. However, he emphasized that ongoing AI and robotics innovations will likely make most manual and knowledge-based jobs unnecessary, as machines perform routine tasks faster and more accurately than humans.
The Tesla and SpaceX CEO has previously highlighted the potential need for Universal Basic Income (UBI) as AI becomes capable of replacing a wide range of jobs. UBI is a system where governments provide a fixed amount of money to every citizen at regular intervals, regardless of income or employment status, ensuring financial security in an automated world.
Musk’s prediction underscores a transformative era where AI and robotics could redefine work, leisure, and economic structures worldwide.