Texas: Tech billionaire Elon Musk has predicted that rapid advances in artificial intelligence will fundamentally reshape the global workforce, saying that working could become “optional” within the next decade or so.
His remarks came during an appearance on Nikhil Kamath’s WTF podcast, where he discussed the future of jobs, entrepreneurship, and immigration.
During the conversation, Musk said that the H1B visa widely used by Indian professionals to work in the United States may lose much of its relevance as AI takes over a significant share of human tasks.
According to Musk, the accelerating pace of automation could lead to a future where “working will be optional in 10–15 years,” as societies shift toward new economic models supported by high-performing artificial intelligence systems.
“It may not be that far in the future. Maybe… I say in less than 20 years, working will be optional. Working at all will be optional. (It will be) Like a hobby, pretty much,” Musk said.
“Obviously, people can play this back in 20 years and say, ‘Look, Elon made this ridiculous prediction, and it’s not true, but I think it will turn out to be true that in less than 20 years, maybe. Even as little as… 10 or 15 years. The advancement in AI and robotics will bring us to the point where working is optional in the same way that you can grow your own vegetables in your garden, or you could go to the store and buy vegetables,” the 54-year-old said.
The world’s richest man also spoke about what he believes makes an entrepreneur successful. He said founders must embrace resilience and competitive intensity.
In his words, entrepreneurs should be “bullies,” explaining that they must “learn to make more than they can take” in order to survive in the highly demanding world of innovation and business building.
Musk’s remarks come at a time when global anxieties about job displacement and AI-driven disruption are at an all-time high.
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His comments suggest that while automation may reduce the need for traditional employment, it could also open pathways to new forms of creativity, problem-solving, and value creation.
The full episode of Kamath’s WTF podcast features Musk’s extended views on the future of work, the role of AI in reshaping economies, and how society should prepare for an era in which human labor may no longer be essential.
