- Imagine a world where humankind is not required to work to earn money, and AI-driven robots would perform every chore relevant to day-to-day living in the not-so-distant future. Yes, the sentence reads like a purely fantasy world, out of our comprehension, used to lead our lives in the skullduggery of the present-day world, with humongous challenges galore staring us in the face. No reverence for money, which is the bane of humanity since time immemorial, simply seems like a dream for ordinary citizens. However, the richest man in the world, Elon Musk, has a different take on the matter. If the world’s richest man is right, our infant child won’t ever need to work. Yes, you read it right. No doubt whatsoever. Would it work, though?
PC: AI Blog
- In saying so, Musk’s post-work fantasy puts him in the company of Marx, no less. Like him, he won’t see it come true. Unbelievably, Musk says the child won’t pester us for pocket money. School, doctor’s visits, travel, destination wedding, everything will be on the house. He says money will become irrelevant in the future, and people will have any goods and services they want. Musk is so sure that this will happen that he’s declared it twice in a fortnight – at the US-Saudi Investment Forum on Nov 19, and then in a podcast released last week. How is it even possible? Musk is counting on AI and robots to do everything in less than 20 years, maybe even 10, so that humans can vegetate or luxuriate, per their taste. Wow! That’s some claim.
PC: Medium
- It’s indeed brave of him to say so, considering that money could be going out of fashion just when his $1tn performance-linked package vests. But this idea will remain a mere fantasy. That’s because money is an excellent invention. It prevents Musk’s if you can think of it, you can have itvision from coming true. If wishes became horses, where would we pasture them, and who would sweep the manure? Everyone would want natural diamonds, private jets, seaside villas, and Bond cars. Where would it eventually end up? If money is good, so is work. Philosophically, it’s what gives life purpose. Practically, it’s what brings home money. Personally, it’s vital for human connection. Musk is keen to deprive others of the pleasure of long working hours, too.
PC: UNILAD
- Society is built around work. Modern education is structured around it. If humans don’t work at all, we’ll all be living in AI’s zoo. AI will plan for us, police us, and judge us. But if some humans remain in charge of AI, they’ll be more powerful than the most powerful emperor in history. We don’t want such a scenario. Together, work and money are the foundation of a fair society. Yes, the link between them is broken now, but removing them is not the solution. Musk should know that he can’t be in the company of some idealists. In a more practical perspective, Musk wants to sell lots of Optimus robots to make up 80% of Tesla’s value, and for that, his fantasy is a good sales pitch. Let’s not accord too much importance to a businessman’s irrelevant fantasy. Period.
