Elon Musk sparks debate with terrifying prediction about robots people claim will turn into 'nightmare'
What could possibly go wrong?
Although it feels like Elon Musk isn't as vocal as he once was online – seemingly tucking tail after falling out with President Trump – he likes to come back and stir the pot now and then.
The Tesla overlord has firmly left his time in politics behind and has vowed to get back to his other business ventures, including the electric vehicle brand and SpaceX.
Of course, it isn't just rolling cars off the factory line, creating Tesla-themed diners, and shooting Roadsters into space that Tesla is known for.
Going back to what he's supposed to do best, Elon Musk continues to champion the company's robotics side and the innovation of the Optimus robot.
Advert
We've already covered complaints that Musk’s expansion of Tesla's robotics could lead to "one of the most dangerous inventions to ever exist," but according to the world's richest man, his robots are here to further the human race.
Maybe Mr. Musk should sit back and watch a few Terminator movies.
One post on X claimed that all human jobs will be replaced by robots in the year 2030, adding the shocking statistic that we could produce 320 million robots a year in the next half a decade.
Musk responded, and as well as saying he thinks the estimates are about right, he continued: "Intelligent robots in humanoid form will far exceed the population of humans, as every person will want their own personal R2-D2 and C-3PO."
Just in case you weren't already concerned about the idea of intelligent robots outnumbering humans, someone else asked how we'll sustain ourselves without jobs.
Musk chimed in saying: "There will be universal high income (not merely basic income). Everyone will have the best medical care, food, home, transport and everything else. Sustainable abundance."
It's a nice idea for a man who has a net worth of $431.8 billion, but more than just having access to a basic income, Musk maintains we'll have much more than the bare minimum.
Echoing the fears of many, someone else said: "Do you really not understand why this will be a nightmare?"
This isn't the first time Musk has floated the idea of universal high income (UHI).
Speaking at May's Viva Technology Conference in Paris, Musk suggested: "In a benign scenario, probably none of us will have a job...
"I'd say there's about an 80% chance that AI advances will lead to a situation where humans will not need to work and will have all they need."
Even Musk has admitted there could be problems with this, namely, what purpose humans would have if AI is here to do all our jobs.
There are other naysayers, and as far back as 2017, Bill Gates said the USA isn't even ready for universal basic income, as he mused: "Even the U.S. isn't rich enough to allow people not to work.
“Someday we will be, but until then, things like the earned income tax credit will help increase the demand for labor."
As for Musk's latest promotion of UHI, one person quoted The Hunger Games and said: "Don’t worry there will be far fewer of us by the time this happens. May the odds be ever in your favor."
Another added: "Nothing good has ever happened to peasants who could not provide a needed skill. If they don't need our labor, they don't need us."
A third grimly concluded: "He understands it’s a nightmare for the people. This is the globalist agenda and they don’t care. People must put politics and differences aside, unite and stand against this evil. Otherwise, this is our final demise."