If you've recently grabbed a coffee at a kiosk without speaking to anyone or scanned your groceries without a cashier, you're already experiencing the quiet revolution of automation. It might seem minor now, but according to Elon Musk—founder of SpaceX, CEO of Tesla TSLA, and owner of X —these small shifts are just the start.
Back in 2017 at the World Government Summit, Musk famously said about universal basic income, "I don't think we're going to have a choice." It wasn't a political stance or even his personal preference—it was Musk realistically predicting the future. With artificial intelligence becoming increasingly advanced, he sees a world where jobs traditionally done by humans rapidly vanish.
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But fast-forward a few years, Musk's vision has evolved. During an appearance at the 2024 VivaTech conference in Paris, he didn't just double down on universal income—he took it further. Musk now anticipates a scenario where society doesn't settle for basic income, but instead adopts something far more ambitious: a "high universal income."
"In a benign scenario probably none of us will have a job," Musk explained, emphasizing optimism despite the disruption. "But in that benign scenario, there will be universal high income—not universal base income—and there will be no shortage of goods or services."
That shift—from "basic" to "high" universal income—is critical. Musk believes that AI and automation will drive down the cost of goods and dramatically boost productivity, creating abundance. In other words, everyone will theoretically have access to whatever they need, and poverty as we know it could dramatically diminish.
But here's the catch: Musk sees another serious problem emerging, and it's not economic—it's psychological.
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Will Automation Leave Us Feeling "Useless"?
As appealing as abundant income might sound, Musk is concerned about the meaning we draw from our work. In a future where robots and AI systems outperform us at almost everything, he worries about human dignity, identity, and fulfillment.
"The harder challenge is how do people then have meaning," Musk said. "If you're not needed, if there's not a need for your labor, how do you find meaning? Do you feel useless?"
It's a troubling question. Employment, for most people, isn't just about money—it's about self-worth, social connections, and personal growth. Losing this could create a crisis of meaning, even in a world of abundance.
AI and the Future of Work
Despite these deep concerns, Musk is largely optimistic about AI's impact. "I think the benign scenario is probably the most likely—probably 80% likely if you ask my opinion," he said. "Everyone will have access to as much in the way of goods and services as they would like."
His vision of the future workplace is similarly bold. Work won't vanish altogether, but it'll be optional. Musk describes a world where working becomes more of a hobby or passion project than a necessity. "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."
Could Your Career Soon Become Optional?
Whether you're on board with Musk's predictions or skeptical, it's clear AI is already causing real disruption in the workplace. According to a Brookings Institution report last fall more than 30% of all workers could soon find at least half of their current job tasks taken over by generative AI.
And it's not just about job security. Workers are feeling the strain in other ways, too. A Grant Thornton study last year found that 32% of employees reported their mental well-being worsened in the past year, while 30% saw improvement, and 38% remained about the same.
Musk's statements underline something profound: the conversation about AI and automation isn't simply about economics. It's about human purpose, identity, and what we value beyond money.
As we move into this uncertain, automated future, Musk's message is clear: universal income—perhaps a high universal income—might soon become inevitable. But the real challenge might not be figuring out how to pay for it. Instead, we may have to find entirely new ways of defining our worth in a world where machines do almost everything for us.
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