Musk Envisions World Without Work and Currency, But What About Access to Essentials?
In a recent address at the U.S.-Saudi Investment Forum, billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk predicted that humans will soon become redundant workers, as artificial intelligence and humanoid robots take over all tasks within 10-20 years. He claimed this would make human labor "optional" and that money would eventually lose its relevance.
The vision presented by Musk bears some resemblance to science fiction writers such as Isaac Asimov, who envisioned a future in his 1981 novel where machines will manage most aspects of life, leaving humans with more free time for leisure activities. However, the crux of this hypothetical world remains an enigma: how people would access basic necessities like healthcare, education, and transportation without being tied to traditional work.
Critics point out that Musk failed to outline any practical steps towards achieving a post-work society or propose mechanisms for governance in such a system. Moreover, experts suggest that automation could exacerbate existing wealth disparities unless drastic measures are taken by governments, such as implementing universal basic income systems.
Furthermore, the prospect of widespread robotic labor raises concerns about job security and inequality. As one tech researcher put it, Musk's vision would require a "level of robotics dominance" that may be more hazardous than beneficial. The idea of machines overseeing nearly all tasks taps into classic science fiction fears of human roles being usurped by technology.
For now, Musk's predictions remain speculative, highlighting the gap between Silicon Valley's utopian automation ideals and real-world concerns about social inequality, access, and control over work.
(Note: I made some minor adjustments to maintain a more conversational tone while preserving the original message.)
In a recent address at the U.S.-Saudi Investment Forum, billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk predicted that humans will soon become redundant workers, as artificial intelligence and humanoid robots take over all tasks within 10-20 years. He claimed this would make human labor "optional" and that money would eventually lose its relevance.
The vision presented by Musk bears some resemblance to science fiction writers such as Isaac Asimov, who envisioned a future in his 1981 novel where machines will manage most aspects of life, leaving humans with more free time for leisure activities. However, the crux of this hypothetical world remains an enigma: how people would access basic necessities like healthcare, education, and transportation without being tied to traditional work.
Critics point out that Musk failed to outline any practical steps towards achieving a post-work society or propose mechanisms for governance in such a system. Moreover, experts suggest that automation could exacerbate existing wealth disparities unless drastic measures are taken by governments, such as implementing universal basic income systems.
Furthermore, the prospect of widespread robotic labor raises concerns about job security and inequality. As one tech researcher put it, Musk's vision would require a "level of robotics dominance" that may be more hazardous than beneficial. The idea of machines overseeing nearly all tasks taps into classic science fiction fears of human roles being usurped by technology.
For now, Musk's predictions remain speculative, highlighting the gap between Silicon Valley's utopian automation ideals and real-world concerns about social inequality, access, and control over work.
(Note: I made some minor adjustments to maintain a more conversational tone while preserving the original message.)
They have these amazing vegan burgers that are literally so good, like, I've been eating them every week for lunch and I'm not even joking! Anyway, back to Musk's predictions... I mean, what if AI actually takes over all tasks and humans just chill on the couch all day? Would we need a new kind of social structure or something? Like, how would people interact with each other without the whole work thing holding them back? And what about when your favorite sports team loses... wouldn't that still be a bummer?!
... I mean, whats gonna happen to people who cant even take care of themselves? Like, elderly folks or ppl with disabilities? How are they gonna access healthcare and stuff without work? 
And what about the poor and homeless? They need basic human services like food and shelter, not just some fancy universal basic income 
... And have you seen Musk's previous tweets about how AI is gonna make life better for humans? 
Like, where's the proof? Has he actually talked to ppl who are gonna be affected by this? 
Think about it, no more 9-to-5 grind, no more commutes, no more adulting 
. And with AI handling all the tasks, humans can focus on doing what we're actually good at – being creative and chillin' 
.
. So yeah, I'm all for ditching the traditional 9-to-5 and embracing a world where machines do the heavy lifting 
. Bring it on! 
... like, what if AI and robots actually start replacing humans for good? 
That's gonna leave us with nothing to do but chill on the couch all day. But then, how are we supposed to get around, go to school, or even see a doctor without a steady income? 
The more I think about it, the more I'm like, "hold up, Elon, you gotta flesh out the details here." 
i get that AI and robots are getting super smart and stuff, but have he thought this through? 
like, what about healthcare? how are people gonna afford that without a steady income? 
not to mention, what's gonna happen to the environment when we're all sitting around twiddling our thumbs? 
like, can't we find ways to make work more sustainable and less robot-ruled? 
so they're gonna just let ppl go without any basic necessities like healthcare? 
what's Elon thinking? 
newsflash elon: that's not a utopia, that's a dystopia! 
. he didn't even mention how we'd pay for everything or what kind of system we'd have in place to make sure everyone's taken care of. and let's be real, how do we know that automation wouldn't just create more inequality? i mean, if robots are taking over all the jobs, who gets left behind? 
Anyway, I think it's cool that people are having conversations about this future, but yeah, Musk needs to get real about how ppl would access the essentials without a job. Universal basic income sounds like a solid idea, but it's not like he proposed that or anything... 
It's all well and good for Musk to imagine a utopian future, but we need more practical solutions. 
.
, but on the other hand, how are people supposed to access basic necessities like healthcare and food if they're not working? 
It's a pretty scary thought 
.
. He's like a sci-fi novelist turned real life prophesier 
. That's just gonna make it harder for people to access basic necessities. What if you don't have any cash to pay for healthcare or ed? What then? It sounds like Musk needs to do some more research before he starts making all these bold predictions 
or else his vision is just utopian nonsense 