Elon Musk on the future of jobs and AI, 'My prediction is that work will be optional' (www.techradar.com)

Elon Musk declared at the U.S.–Saudi Investment Forum that “work will be optional,” predicting within roughly 10–20 years AI, robotics and teleoperation will automate most jobs. He envisions remaining work as largely teleoperated — “like playing sports or a video game” from your couch — powered by humanoid robots and advanced automation. Musk added provocative claims that fundamental physical constraints (power, mass) will be the main limits and that currency could eventually become irrelevant as automation “eliminates poverty,” though he offered no concrete policy or transition plan. The statement matters because of Musk’s influence and because independent analyses already warn of large-scale displacement: McKinsey estimates up to 92 million jobs could be affected by 2030, and Goldman Sachs has suggested figures as high as 300 million globally. Technically, Musk’s scenario hinges on breakthroughs in robotics, telepresence, energy and logistics, plus societal choices about income distribution, reskilling, and safety. Critics note the gap between optimistic automation narratives and the hard engineering, economic and political work required to manage mass disruption. For AI/ML practitioners and policymakers, the discussion underscores urgent priorities: robust human-in-the-loop systems, reskilling programs, social-safety nets (e.g., UBI debates), and rigorous analysis of where automation truly adds value versus where human work will persist.