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New Delhi:
Tesla CEO Elon Musk believes that artificial intelligence (AI) will eventually eliminate all jobs, but that this isn't necessarily a bad development, CNN reported. “Probably nobody will lose their job,” Musk said at a startup and technology event in Paris on Thursday.
Speaking remotely via webcam at the Viva Tech event, Elon Musk predicted a future where jobs become “choosable.”
“If you want your hobby to be your job, then make it your job,” Musk said, adding, “But if not, AI and robots will bring you the products and services you want.”
Musk stressed that for this scenario to succeed, “universal high income” — which should not be confused with universal basic income — would be necessary, though he did not elaborate on the concept in great detail.
Universal Basic Income (UBI) refers to the government providing a set amount of money to everyone, regardless of their income.
“There's going to be no shortage of goods and services,” Musk said. He emphasized that AI capabilities have advanced so rapidly over the past few years that, because of how quickly, regulators, companies and users are still figuring out how to use the technology responsibly.
Musk has voiced concerns about AI in the past. During his keynote address on Thursday, he described AI as his “greatest fear.” He cited Iain Banks' “Culture Book Series,” with its utopian portrayal of a society run by advanced technology, as the most realistic and “best book on the AI future.”
Musk questioned whether people would feel emotionally fulfilled in a future without work.
“The question really becomes one of meaning: If computers and robots can do everything better than humans can, does life have meaning?” Musk said.
“I think there's still a role for humans in giving meaning to AI,” he added.
He also said social media platforms are “programmed by AI to maximise dopamine” and advised parents to manage and limit the amount of social media their children consume.
Industry experts continue to express concern about how different industries and jobs will change as AI becomes more prevalent in the market.
CNN reported in January that researchers at MIT's Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory found that the adoption of AI in the workplace is slower than some had expected or feared. The report also noted that many jobs previously thought to be susceptible to AI are not currently economically profitable for employers to automate.
Experts widely believe that many jobs that require high emotional intelligence and human interaction, such as mental health professionals, creative jobs, and teachers, do not need to be replaced.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
