In a world changing at dizzying speed, Artificial Intelligence (AI) is emerging as the most influential force transforming society, the economy and professional relations.
Although the idea of AI and its consequences has occupied technological debate for years, the recent statements of Elon Musk in a discussion with Joe Rogan shed light, in a particularly alarming yet strikingly optimistic way, on the trends shaping the future of work.
This conversation, within Musk’s three hour discussion with Rogan, although seemingly small, may prove to be one of the most decisive discussions of the decade, as noted by Camus.
Musk’s thoughts on the future of Artificial Intelligence, work and society more broadly offer a disruptive yet strikingly realistic perspective on the era we are already living through.
The billionaire owner of Tesla and X gives a harsh response to everyone who questions Artificial Intelligence, calling them “fools”.
A revolution is coming, AI is a hypersonic tsunami
Musk does not hide his enthusiasm for the capabilities of AI, while noting that the speed of change is so high that it may shock many workers.
AI, according to him, is already here and spreading at the pace of a “hypersonic tsunami”, eliminating almost every digital job, from programming and emails to spreadsheet management and customer service.
As he himself says, the need for jobs will certainly not disappear, but the forms of those jobs will change dramatically.
By contrast, “traditional” jobs, such as “digital” bureaucratic roles, will be eliminated at a speed never before observed in human history.
Which jobs will survive
Although Artificial Intelligence will take over digital professions, Musk states clearly that jobs related to physical activity will remain.
Jobs that require physical labor, such as hospitality and agriculture, are expected to survive for a very long time.
The same applies to any job involving the physical movement of objects or direct interaction with the real world, which makes these positions less vulnerable to the “logic” of Artificial Intelligence.
Musk warns, however, that the elimination of these digital roles should not be seen as a catastrophe.
On the contrary, he explains that society will be led toward new forms of work requiring different skills and abilities, adapted to the world shaped by Artificial Intelligence.
The safe scenario – When work ceases to be “necessary”
The most striking and perhaps most paradoxical statement by Musk concerns the “best future” he envisions for humanity.
Speaking about the capabilities of Artificial Intelligence, Musk predicted a future in which work will no longer be “necessary”, not because jobs will not exist, but because conditions will allow people to choose whether they want to work or not.
As he says, “in the best future, work becomes optional”.
Not only that, but he argues that “we will not have universal basic income (UBI), we will have universal high income”, meaning that extreme abundance will make almost everything free and poverty will disappear.
The sense of abundance and universal prosperity described by Musk, although it sounds like utopia, cannot be ignored, as today’s technological achievements, such as advances in automation and AI, appear capable of delivering this transformation.
Technological revolution
The comparison Musk makes with the early 20th century is revealing.
In the 1900s, people worked as “computers”, every calculation was done manually by humans.
However, with the advent of the first digital computers, these professions disappeared almost overnight.
Rather than bringing destruction, progress in computing created a new era of opportunity and advancement, with humanity developing exponentially across all fields.
Musk sees Artificial Intelligence bringing something similar, opening new opportunities and creating a new category of professionals responsible for harnessing these new technologies.
A “divine” perspective
Although Musk’s thinking on AI appears positive and enthusiastic, concerns about negative consequences remain.
How can we ensure that Artificial Intelligence will “want” to care for humanity and strengthen it.
The uncertainty surrounding how Artificial Intelligence will “think” and react is undeniable.
However, Musk explains that if humanity guides AI toward “maximum truth and curiosity”, then AI, rather than causing destruction, will want to help humanity and care for its well being.
The new era of work and the opportunities of AI
Artificial Intelligence and its rapid progress are undeniable.
The way it affects the world of work and social structures will be decisive for the next decade.
Despite concerns about the future of jobs and the impact of AI on society, the perspective described by Musk, of increasing abundance and “optional” work, is something that cannot be ignored.
Artificial Intelligence will not simply be a tool, it will reshape our world in ways we cannot yet imagine.
If this path unfolds in the right way, the future may prove far more positive than expected.
This 7-minute exchange between Elon Musk and Joe Rogan is quietly one of the most important conversations of the decade.
— Camus (@newstart_2024) December 11, 2025
Elon lays it out plainly:
AI is a “supersonic tsunami” already erasing every purely digital job—coding, emails, spreadsheets, customer support—faster than any… pic.twitter.com/FA9U7z199z
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