Elon Musk has once again made headlines with bold predictions about the future of work and automation. In a series of posts on X, formerly known as Twitter, Musk claimed that humanoid robots will one day outnumber humans and that society will transition to a system where people receive what he called a “universal high income.” The remarks followed an online discussion about the impact of artificial intelligence and robotics on the labor market.
Musk’s Predictions on Robots and Income
The discussion began when a user on X speculated that by 2030, all jobs would be replaced by artificial intelligence and robotics. The user estimated that replacing the U.S. workforce would require about 20 million autonomous systems, including self-driving vehicles, automated equipment, and humanoid robots. Musk responded by agreeing that the estimates were “about right,” but added that the number of robots would eventually far exceed the number of humans.
He elaborated by suggesting that every individual would want their own humanoid robots, comparing them to R2-D2 and C-3PO from Star Wars. In Musk’s view, robots would not only serve as personal companions but would also fill industrial roles, producing goods and services on a massive scale. This, he argued, would usher in a new social order in which people no longer need to work for survival.
When asked how displaced workers would support themselves, Musk proposed the idea of a universal high income, distinguishing it from universal basic income (UBI). He claimed this system would provide everyone with access to essential goods and services, including medical care, housing, food, and transportation. While Musk did not provide details on how such a system would be implemented, his framing suggested it would accompany widespread robot-driven automation.
Historical Echoes of Automation Promises
Musk’s comments are part of a longstanding tradition of futurist predictions about automation. Throughout the mid-20th century, experts and cultural figures forecasted that advances in technology would reduce or eliminate the need for human labor. In 1967, broadcaster Walter Cronkite reported on government projections that by the year 2000, Americans would enjoy 30-hour work weeks and month-long vacations due to automation.
Publications of the era also speculated about potential downsides. A 1959 article in Parade magazine titled “Will Robots Make People Obsolete?” warned that while automation might eliminate work, it could also leave people without purpose, leading to social unrest and higher rates of depression or suicide. These fears mirrored both optimism and anxiety about what a fully automated society might look like.
Fiction and media also amplified these themes. The animated series The Jetsons, which premiered in 1962, imagined a world where George Jetson worked just three hours a day thanks to automation. At the same time, darker portrayals from the 1930s depicted robots as threats during economic downturns, representing both lost jobs and potential social disruption. Musk’s remarks reflect many of these familiar narratives, repackaged for a 21st-century audience.
Implications for Tesla and the Robotics Industry
Musk’s vision is closely tied to his company’s own ambitions in robotics. Tesla has been developing a humanoid robot called Optimus, which Musk claims could one day be produced in the billions. According to Musk, Optimus will eventually take on a wide range of tasks, from industrial labor to household chores. Although still in early development and trailing behind competitors like Figure AI, Tesla continues to promote Optimus as central to its long-term strategy.
The economic and political implications of Musk’s statements raise questions that remain unresolved. Implementing a universal high income would require significant governmental oversight and funding mechanisms, issues Musk has not addressed in detail. Critics have pointed out the contradiction between Musk’s libertarian-leaning rhetoric on government spending and his suggestion that the state could provide broad, guaranteed benefits.
As automation advances, the debate over its social consequences continues to intensify. Experts acknowledge that robots and artificial intelligence will reshape industries, but whether this will lead to mass unemployment, reduced working hours, or new forms of labor remains uncertain. Musk’s comments fit within a broader conversation about the promises and pitfalls of a world where machines take on roles once filled exclusively by people.