Elon Musk Predicts Billions of Humanoid Robots Will Transform the Global Economy

Elon Musk Predicts Billions of Humanoid Robots Will Transform the Global Economy

At the Saudi-U.S. Investment Forum in Riyadh on Tuesday, Tesla CEO Elon Musk predicted that billions of humanoid robots will eventually reshape the global economy.

“Everyone will want a robot,” Musk said. “Imagine having your own C-3PO or R2-D2—but better,” referencing the iconic Star Wars droids. According to Musk, such large-scale automation could drive productivity to unprecedented levels, enabling what he called “universal high income,” where goods and services are so abundant that no one lacks anything.

Musk has long emphasized the role of humanoid robots in the future. At Tesla’s event in October 2023, he described the company’s Optimus robot as potentially “the most valuable product ever.” Tesla aims to produce 1 million Optimus units per year, though the project still faces technical and geopolitical challenges.

In February, during the World Government Summit in Dubai, Musk stated that humanoid robots and deep AI could unlock “quasi-infinite” products and services, fueling explosive economic growth. He reiterated similar ideas at the 2023 AI Safety Summit in the UK, suggesting that AI will eventually do “everything,” making human labor optional and driven only by personal fulfillment.

However, Musk also warned of potential risks. In Riyadh, he acknowledged the possibility of dystopian outcomes, saying, “We don’t want a James Cameron-style scenario like The Terminator. A future like Star Trek would be great.”

Musk previously estimated on the All-In podcast that artificial intelligence poses a 20% risk of causing human extinction.