IBNS-CMEDIA: Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has predicted that advances in technology over the next 10 to 20 years could make work optional for people.
Speaking to Zerodha co-founder Nikhil Kamath on his podcast WTF is, Musk said, “It may not be that far in the future… working at all will be optional. (It will be) like a hobby, pretty much.”
Musk added that the rapid development of artificial intelligence and robotics could lead to a future where people can choose whether or not to work, similar to deciding between growing your own vegetables or buying them from a store.
“Obviously, people can play this back in 20 years and say, ‘Look, Elon made this ridiculous prediction, and it’s not true, but I think it will turn out to be true that in less than 20 years, maybe. Even as little as… 10 or 15 years.
“The advancements in AI and robotics will bring us to the point where working is optional in the same way that you can grow your own vegetables in your garden, or you could go to the store and buy vegetables,” the billionaire added.
During the nearly two-hour interview, Elon Musk also touched on personal topics. He revealed that his partner, Shivon Zilis, is half-Indian and that one of their twin sons carries “Shekhar” as his middle name, in honor of renowned physicist Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar.
Musk shared details about Zilis’s background, noting that she grew up in Canada and was adopted as a baby.
Musk also commented on the role of Indian talent in the United States, saying the country has “been an immense beneficiary of talent from India,” although he suggested that visa restrictions under the Trump administration have begun to change this dynamic.
The ‘WTF is’ podcast, hosted by Nikhil Kamath, has featured several prominent guests, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Bill Gates, Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, and Nandan Nilekani.
With Musk appearing on the show, the episode is expected to generate significant attention.
