Bill Gates Slams Elon Musk’s Vision of a Jobless Future and Universal High Income for 80% of the Population

Elon Musk has made waves with his bold predictions about a future where most humans no longer need to work, driven by the rapid advancements of artificial intelligence (AI). At the Viva Technology Conference in Paris on May 23, Musk proclaimed that AI could eliminate the need for most human jobs, suggesting that an 80% chance exists for a future where people live without the need to work and still enjoy universal high income.

While Musk’s vision of a utopian world fueled by AI and automation has captivated many, it has also raised serious doubts, particularly from figures like Bill Gates, who continues to voice concerns about the economic feasibility of such an ambitious future.

Musk’s remarks, though bold, reflect his belief in the transformative potential of AI. He envisions a society where most of the world’s population has access to high income without traditional labor, and where humans can lead meaningful lives despite the absence of work. Musk emphasized that the economic shift would not be the hardest part, as the greater challenge will be in redefining human purpose.

“The question will really be one of meaning,” Musk said, acknowledging that if AI and robots perform tasks better than humans, people will have to grapple with the question of what gives life meaning when work is no longer a necessity.

This idea is not new for Musk. In 2016, he suggested that universal basic income (UBI) could be a potential solution to the displacement of human workers due to automation. However, what has changed in Musk’s latest remarks is the boldness with which he asserts that the rise of AI is not just possible—it is almost inevitable.

Musk’s prediction that AI will enable a world where “none of us will have a job” is rooted in his belief that the advances in AI are far more advanced than even skeptics may realize.

Yet, Musk’s rosy outlook is far from universally accepted. Bill Gates, a long-time advocate for technological innovation, remains deeply skeptical of Musk’s vision. In a 2017 Reddit AMA, Gates pointed out that even the wealthiest nations, including the U.S., aren’t yet in a position to provide a universal income that would support those displaced by automation.

“Even the U.S. isn’t rich enough to allow people not to work,” Gates said at the time. “Someday we will be, but until then, things like the earned income tax credit will help increase the demand for labor.”

While Musk’s vision of an AI-driven future paints a picture of abundance, Gates argues that the economic conditions necessary to sustain such a society do not yet exist. The rapid pace of AI development has certainly accelerated since Gates made his comment in 2017, but the economic and societal barriers to implementing a universal income system remain, in Gates’ view, insurmountable in the near term.

Gates has consistently expressed his concerns about the financial strain that a world of universal high income would place on the economy. In contrast to Musk’s optimism, Gates focuses on mitigating the disruption caused by automation, rather than proposing bold new systems for redistribution.

Instead of UBI, Gates advocates for retraining programs that can help displaced workers transition to new roles, as well as taxation strategies that ensure industries and workers are prepared for the changes automation will bring.

In a March 2025 appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Gates acknowledged that AI will likely replace many jobs, including roles in education and healthcare, within the next decade. However, he stopped short of endorsing a UBI-style solution, focusing instead on managing the transition.

His recent comments have leaned more toward facilitating societal adjustment through taxation and retraining, with an emphasis on gradual change rather than a revolutionary rethinking of income.

Gates has also been vocal about a proposal that remains one of his most controversial ideas: the “robot tax.” Under this proposal, robots or AI systems that replace human workers would be taxed at a similar level to the income taxes humans would pay, with the funds being used to support displaced workers.

While this proposal has faced criticism, it represents one of the few concrete strategies for funding the economic shifts that would come with automation.

Musk’s idea of a jobless society funded by AI-driven abundance, however, raises fundamental questions about the sustainability of such a system. Musk believes that the world will be able to provide for its citizens in a way that transcends traditional employment, but Gates’ cautious approach points to the lack of a viable financial model that could support such an idea in the near future.

At the heart of the disagreement between the two billionaires is their differing views on the future of work and the role of AI in society. Musk’s vision suggests that AI will create a world of abundance where everyone can thrive without the need to work.

Gates, on the other hand, sees automation and AI as disruptive forces that need to be managed carefully to avoid creating economic inequality and strain on public systems.

While Gates’ concerns are grounded in the current economic realities—where rising federal debt, strained social programs, and increasing inequality complicate the notion of universal income—Musk’s predictions hinge on the rapid development of AI technologies that he believes will overcome these challenges.

Whether Musk’s vision of a jobless future or Gates’ pragmatic approach will prevail depends on how quickly and effectively society adapts to the disruptions that AI will inevitably bring.

What is clear, however, is that the debate about the future of work, income, and AI is far from over. The clock on AI-driven change is ticking, and as the technologies that Musk and Gates are talking about continue to evolve, the questions surrounding the role of humans in the workforce and the financial systems that support them will only become more urgent.

Whether Musk’s optimistic prediction or Gates’ more cautious outlook will ultimately shape the future remains to be seen. But one thing is certain: the world is entering a new era where the intersection of AI, work, and income will be a defining issue for generations to come.