Elon Musk predicts AI robots will make human work optional within two decades

Elon Musk has predicted that AI robots will make human work optional within two decades, a statement that once again thrust the billionaire into the center of the global AI debate.

Speaking at the US–Saudi Arabia Investment Forum, Musk said that advances in intelligent systems are moving so quickly that traditional jobs could soon feel more like hobbies than necessities.

According to Musk, AI robots will eventually handle most tasks that today require human labour. He compared the future of work to gardening, something people do for pleasure rather than survival.

His comments arrive at a sensitive moment, as layoffs across multiple sectors are increasingly linked to automation and AI robots taking over routine roles.

Still, Musk acknowledged that the world is far from that reality. He referenced the Iain Banks Culture series, imagining a society where money loses relevance as AI robots and automated systems handle nearly everything.

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, appearing alongside Musk, agreed that technology will reshape every job, though he suggested that increased productivity may still leave people feeling busy.

In the end, Musk’s bold prediction reignited a familiar question: if AI robots truly make work optional, how will society redefine purpose, productivity, and human identity in the decades ahead?