Elon Musk has stated in several public appearances that as AI and robotics continue to advance, work will become optional in the next 10 to 20 years, akin to a hobby rather than a necessity for survival; digital jobs will be replaced more quickly.

At events like the U.S.-Saudi Investment Forum, he mentioned that AI and robots could produce goods and services at near-zero cost, significantly reducing the correlation between work and money, and referred to "universal high income" rather than just basic income.

Musk pointed out that digital work (tasks done in front of a computer) will be rapidly taken over by AI, comparing it to how digital computers replaced manual calculations; physical jobs (welding, cooking, agriculture, etc.) will last longer.

After a White House meeting, he stated, "Work will change," and noted that current AI has not yet led to a surge in unemployment, with still a high demand for human labor; he also predicted that humanoid robots like Optimus will expand their applications in fields like healthcare.

In related discussions, Musk compared work to the choice between growing vegetables and buying them at the store, emphasizing that under abundant conditions, people can choose whether to work; he also suggested that young people acquire broad knowledge to understand how to make demands of AI and robots.

Digital positions and time-based tasks face accelerated replacement pressure, while physical and judgment-based jobs are relatively less pressured; capital and attention are flowing towards robots, computing power, and infrastructure, while individuals and service companies that rely on selling time need to adjust their positioning.

Musk has repeatedly stated that AI is a "supersonic tsunami" that will significantly change the workplace, but the transformation process will come with shocks.

Source: Public Information