Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has projected that advances in artificial intelligence and robotics could dramatically reshape the global economy, predicting that money may no longer hold the same importance by 2036.
Musk made the prediction while discussing the long-term impact of AI, arguing that technological progress could lead to a future in which intelligent machines produce an abundance of goods and services. According to him, such a transformation could significantly reduce scarcity, altering the traditional role of money in everyday life.
His remarks have sparked widespread discussion among economists, technology experts, and industry leaders about the future of work and the global financial system. While some analysts view Musk’s outlook as an ambitious vision of technological innovation, others caution that such predictions remain speculative and depend on breakthroughs that have yet to be achieved.
The billionaire entrepreneur suggested that AI-powered systems and autonomous robots could eventually perform much of the world’s productive labour, increasing efficiency across industries and lowering the cost of production. If realized, he argued, this shift could redefine economic models that have relied on money as the primary medium of exchange for centuries.
The prediction is significant because governments, businesses, and research institutions are investing heavily in artificial intelligence to improve productivity and drive economic growth. At the same time, the rapid expansion of AI has intensified debates over automation, employment, income inequality, and the ethical governance of emerging technologies.
Elon Musk has consistently shared bold predictions about artificial intelligence, describing it as one of the most transformative technologies of the modern era. His latest forecast adds to the ongoing global conversation about how AI could reshape economies, industries, and everyday life over the coming decades.
