Elon Musk: AI could usher in an ‘age of abundance’ for everyone — what critics are saying

Elon Musk, speaking at a White House gathering of tech leaders, argued that artificial intelligence and humanoid robots could usher in an "age of abundance" for everyone worldwide. Musk believes the most likely long-term outcome is a "universal high income," which goes beyond universal basic income, as AI and robots would create a much higher standard of living for everyone.

Musk compared the transition to historical examples, such as the rise of human computers, where jobs changed but demand for human labor remained strong during the transition. He emphasized that the nature of work would evolve, and AI and robots could perform many tasks currently done by humans, making high-quality medical expertise available to people worldwide.

However, Musk's prediction depends on several technological breakthroughs occurring together, such as AI systems becoming more capable, humanoid robots becoming reliable and affordable, and increases in automated manufacturing and energy capacity. The distribution of wealth and how societies manage the transition will play a significant role in determining how broadly the benefits are shared.