Elon Musk says people should not save money for the future because he believes artificial intelligence (AI) and robots could eventually create a world of extraordinary abundance. In fact, the Tesla and SpaceX chief has repeatedly predicted that advances in AI will make goods and services so widely available that people may no longer need to work to pay for the things they need.Musk's latest comments on AI, or what he calls the superintelligent abundance, came in a post on X.
He was responding to a user joking about justifying questionable financial decisions by betting on a future of abundance. The user battleangelviv, wrote that while people should not be totally reckless with their money, many of today's financial decisions might not matter in a few years.
Responding to his post, Musk wrote, “Saving money for the distant future is pointless with the advent of super intelligent abundance.”And this is not the first time Musk has made such a prediction. The billionaire has repeatedly argued that AI and humanoid robots could transform the global economy, eventually making work optional and reducing the importance of money.
In a July 2026 interview with The Economist, Musk predicted that money would not matter by 2036, arguing that AI and robots could produce more goods and services than people could possibly consume.Elon Musk predicts a future of abundanceDuring the interview, Musk said AI could surpass the combined intelligence of humanity in around five years. He argued that if AI systems and robots continue to advance, they could eventually provide people with almost anything they need.
He described the likely outcome as an “age of amazing abundance”, while acknowledging that global events could derail this future. Why does Musk think there will be such abundance?
His argument is that people use money primarily to pay for essentials and services, including food, housing, transport and entertainment. If AI and robots can produce these in quantities far beyond what people need, he believes money may no longer be as important as it is today.The idea also connects with Musk's earlier prediction that employment could become optional.
In this possible future, people might choose to work because they enjoy it rather than because they need a salary to survive. Musk has suggested that governments could provide people with income as automation changes the role of human labour.- Ends