(MENAFN) US entrepreneur Elon Musk has suggested that advancements in artificial intelligence and robotics could transform work from a necessity into a personal choice over the next few decades.

The billionaire shared this prediction during a panel at a US-Saudi investment forum on Thursday, discussing the long-term effects of robotics and AI on the labor market.

“I don’t know what long-term is, maybe it’s 10, 20 years or something like that,” Musk said. “My prediction is that work will be optional.”

He further explained that in the future, work might resemble a hobby rather than an obligation, similar to how some individuals opt to cultivate vegetables in their backyards instead of purchasing them.

“It’ll be like playing sports or a video game or something like that,” he added.

Musk also proposed that in a world heavily influenced by sophisticated AI and robotics, the significance of money could diminish substantially. “I think at some point, currency becomes irrelevant,” he stated.

However, he recognized that “a lot of work” remains before society and technology can reach such a scenario.

Musk’s optimism is partly linked to Tesla’s development of Optimus, a humanoid robot designed to handle repetitive, physically demanding, and potentially hazardous tasks.

The company envisions Optimus eventually operating in factories, warehouses, and even households.

Musk has claimed that humanoid robots could become “the biggest industry or the biggest product ever, bigger than cellphones.”

MENAFN24112025000045017167ID1110387309