Elon Musk has once again emphasized his predictions about the transformative effects of artificial intelligence (AI) on employment, suggesting that the advent of AI will necessitate a “universal high income” as traditional jobs become obsolete. Speaking at the VivaTech 2024 event in Paris, Musk described a future where AI and robots will handle all production and services, making most jobs redundant.
Musk has long voiced his concerns about AI, describing it as his “biggest fear.” He envisions a future where AI surpasses human abilities in every field, relegating humans to a secondary role. During his talk at VivaTech, he questioned the future significance of human life if machines can perform all tasks better: “The question will really be one of meaning – if the computer and robots can do everything better than you, does your life have meaning? I do think there’s perhaps still a role for humans in this – in that we may give AI meaning.”
In Musk’s envisioned future, work would become optional, with individuals working more as a hobby rather than out of necessity. AI would take over essential production and service tasks, requiring a “universal high income” to maintain economic stability. However, Musk did not elaborate on how this concept differs from universal basic income (UBI), which provides everyone with a set amount of money regardless of their income.
The rapid advancements in AI have prompted discussions among regulators, companies, and consumers about its responsible use and the potential disruption of various industries. Despite these advancements, AI adoption in workplaces has been slower than some anticipated. A recent MIT report found that many jobs identified as vulnerable to AI were not economically viable for automation at the time. Experts believe that roles requiring high emotional intelligence and human interaction, such as mental health professionals, creatives, and teachers, are less likely to be replaced by AI.
Musk is actively involved in the AI industry through his company, xAI, which has secured $6 billion in funding from major investors like Lightspeed Venture Partners, Andreessen Horowitz, Sequoia Capital, and Tribe Capital, giving the company a valuation of $18 billion. Although Musk acknowledges that xAI is currently behind industry leaders like OpenAI and Google DeepMind, he believes it could catch up by the end of 2024. He predicts that AI will reach human-level cognition by 2025, potentially positioning xAI at the forefront of this technological revolution.
However, not all of Musk's AI-related predictions have come to pass. In 2019, he predicted that Tesla would have a million fully autonomous robotaxis on the road by 2020, a goal that remains unachieved. More recently, he forecasted the launch of Tesla’s first robotaxi by August 2024.
During his VivaTech keynote, Musk also addressed societal issues, urging parents to limit their children’s exposure to social media, which he claims is controlled by “dopamine-maximizing AI.” He cited the "Culture Book Series" by Ian Banks as a realistic depiction of a future dominated by advanced technology, describing it as the best vision of a society governed by AI.
As we approach this potential AI-dominated future, Musk’s vision prompts important questions about the role of humans in a world where machines excel in all tasks. Whether his predictions will come true remains uncertain, but the conversation about AI’s impact on work, society, and human purpose is more crucial than ever.