At the Elon Musk-led panel at the U.S.–Saudi Investment Forum on November 19, 2025, Musk made a bold forecast: advancements in artificial intelligence and humanoid robotics could make work “optional” within the next 10 to 20 years.
Musk compared future employment to optional activities today — like playing sports or video games — rather than as a necessity. “My prediction is that work will be optional,” he said. He also suggested that money might lose its relevance in a world where production is handled by machines and resources become abundant.
Presenting his vision, Musk pointed to his company’s developments in humanoid robotics — such as the Tesla Optimus robot — as a stepping stone toward this future. He argued that AI and robots could free people from routine work and help address global challenges like poverty.
How long it will take until work truly becomes optional depends on how fast AI and robotics evolve — and how society adapts.