Elon Musk, the second richest man in the world, launched a provocation during his speech at VivaTech in Paris: in the future, there will be no more need to work. According to Musk, robots and artificial intelligence will carry out every necessary task, guaranteeing everyone a “high universal income”. But is this scenario really desirable?
Elon Musk: a future without work
On Thursday, May 23, Elon Musk participated in a video conference at VivaTech 2024, answering questions for almost an hour. He talked about several topics, including Neuralink, SpaceX and even aliens, but his most surprising statement was about work. Musk said that in the future, machines will do all the work and humans will no longer have to work.
According to Musk, there is an 80% chance that the advancement of artificial intelligence will allow man to have everything he needs without work. For this reason, he proposes a high universal income to guarantee all citizens the necessary means of subsistence.
But would a future without work really make us happy? Umberto Galimberti, philosopher and psychoanalyst, invites us to reflect on the Aristotelian concept of eudaimonia, which represents happiness through the realization of one’s vocation. Aristotle argued that the happiness it is the ultimate goal of life and that this is achieved by following one’s inner demon, the “daimon”.
Work, therefore, is not just an obligation, but a way to realize oneself. Recognizing and following your vocation can lead to true happiness, a concept that goes beyond simple fatigue or constraint.
Article 1 of the Italian Constitution states: “Italy is a democratic republic, founded on work”. This principle underlines the importance of work as a contribution to common prosperity and social cohesion. In the Middle Ages, cities like Florence prospered thanks to the collective commitment of their citizens, who recognized themselves as workers and contributed to the well-being of the community.
Imagining a future without it Workas described by Muskmeans questioning a fundamental pillar of our society. A world without work could rob us of our identity and sense of belonging. We would be simple consumers, without a defined role in the community.
What do you think of this jobless future imagined by Elon Musk? What does the job mean to you?? Reply in the comments and share your vision of the future!
#Elon #Musk #man #longer #work #artificial #intelligence