“My prediction is, in less than 20 years, working will be optional — like a hobby,” Musk said during the interview.
Washington, DC (US), December 1, 2025, BNN Web Staff: Tesla CEO Elon Musk has forecast a future where employment is no longer a necessity, stating that rapid advances in artificial intelligence and robotics could make work “optional” within the next 10 to 20 years.
In a conversation with Zerodha Co-Founder Nikhil Kamath, Musk said that technological progress is moving so quickly that most forms of human labor will eventually be handled by intelligent machines.
“My prediction is, in less than 20 years, working will be optional — like a hobby,” Musk said during the interview.
He compared this shift to choosing whether to grow vegetables at home even though they are readily available in stores, suggesting that people will work only if they enjoy it, not because they need to earn a living.
Musk added that this transformation might happen even sooner — possibly within 10 to 15 years — as AI systems increasingly take over routine as well as complex tasks.
While acknowledging that some may question his prediction, Musk maintained that the pace of AI development is unlike anything humanity has seen before. As a result, he believes that work will eventually become a matter of personal choice rather than economic necessity.
The discussion followed Kamath’s observation that several Western countries are already shifting to shorter workweeks. Musk responded that although reduced hours are becoming common, demanding fields like startups still require “serious hours.” However, he noted that over time, even these challenging roles could be taken over or significantly supported by advanced AI.
When asked how society might function if people had to work only a fraction of the week, Musk insisted the change would go far beyond flexible work schedules: “People simply won’t have to work at all.”
According to him, AI and robotics will be capable of delivering any product or service people desire. “If you can think of it, you can have it,” he said.
Kamath also raised concerns about human competitiveness and whether universal high income would satisfy everyone. Musk admitted this was uncertain, noting that humanity is approaching a technological “singularity” where future outcomes become unpredictable.
He suggested that once AI meets all human needs, it may begin focusing on goals beyond human consumption, as there are natural limits to how much people can use or enjoy.
Musk’s comments underscore his long-held belief that society is on the brink of a profound transformation driven by AI — one that could make traditional work entirely optional within the next two decades.
