According to CNN, Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla, believes that artificial intelligence (AI) will eventually replace all employment and that this is not necessarily a bad thing. “Probably none of us will have a job,” Musk remarked on Thursday while speaking at a startup and innovation event in Paris.
During his webcam speech at Viva Tech, Elon Musk hinted to a future in which jobs would become “optional.”
He stated, “If you want to do a job that’s kinda like a hobby, you can do a job.” Musk continued, “But otherwise, AI and the robots will provide any goods and services that you want.”
Musk highlighted that a “universal high income,” which should not be mistaken with a universal basic income, would be necessary for this scenario to succeed, although he did not go into much detail about this idea.
The term “universal basic income” (UBI) describes how the government pays everyone a certain amount of money, no matter their income.
“There would be no shortage of goods or services,” Musk said. He highlighted that during the past few years, artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities have grown so swiftly that users, businesses, and regulators are still working out how to use the technology responsibly.
Musk has previously stated his worries about AI. He said in his Thursday keynote address that his “biggest fear” was technology. He described Ian Banks’ “Culture Book Series,” which is a utopian staged portrayal of a society ruled by cutting-edge technology, as “the best envisioning of a future AI” and the most realistic.
Musk questioned if a world without jobs would allow individuals to experience emotional fulfillment.
“The question will really be one of meaning – if the computer and robots can do everything better than you, does your life have meaning?” stated Musk.
He continued, “I do think there’s perhaps still a role for humans in this – in that we may give AI meaning.”
Additionally, he advised parents to monitor and restrict their kids’ use of social media, claiming that these platforms “are being programmed by a dopamine-maximizing AI.”
Industry insiders are always voicing concerns about how the increasing prevalence of AI in the market would impact different businesses and employment.
According to CNN, MIT Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Lab researchers discovered in January that corporate adoption of AI is happening more slowly than some were expecting and feared. The research also mentioned how many jobs that had previously been considered AI-vulnerable were not at the time economically advantageous for employers to automate.
Most experts agree that there won’t be a need to replace many positions requiring strong emotional intelligence and interpersonal skills, like those in mental health, the arts, and education.