Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and X, says AI and robots will probably lead to an age of abundance with Universal High Income for all, but that this could result in a crisis of meaning and there’s a 10-20% chance of annihilation.
When asked whether he’s both optimistic and pessimistic about AI, Musk candidly replied, “The probabilities associated with it, I think, are either 100% optimistic or completely pessimistic. I generally agree with Jeff Hinton, one of the Godfathers of AI. He posted on the X platform of the AI Community, and he thinks there’s a 10% or 20% probability of something terrible happening but the glass is 80% full. Just look on the bright side.”
Moreover, he added that he envisions a future where advancements in AI and robotics usher in an era of abundance, potentially providing universal high income for everyone. This optimistic scenario hinges on the premise that AI and robots will significantly enhance productivity, reduce costs, and create unprecedented wealth.
However, Musk also warns that such a shift could precipitate a profound crisis of meaning. As traditional jobs become no longer in use and daily survival no longer drives human activity, individuals may struggle to find purpose and fulfillment in a world where work is optional.
What motivates Elon Musk
SpaceX takes 80% of the payload to space, but that’s not actually the ambition of SpaceX.
“The goal of SpaceX is to make life multiplanetary in order to extend the probable lifespan of consciousness. That has been the goal from the beginning.” said Musk.
“You can see videos of me talking about this 20 years ago. In order to do that, we need to transport a lot of people and equipment to Mars.”
This could lead to widespread societal challenges as people seek new ways to derive satisfaction and meaning. Musk also cautions that there is a risk estimated at 10-20% that the very technologies promising abundance could instead lead to outcomes, including potential annihilation.