In a future the place synthetic intelligence and robotics can meet just about each materials want, Tesla CEO Elon Musk believes humanity should transcend Common Primary Earnings (UBI) — and embrace Common Excessive Earnings (UHI).
Chatting with investor and entrepreneur Nikhil Kamath on the Individuals of WTF podcast, Musk outlined a future state of affairs the place human survival is not the financial baseline, because of the sheer abundance generated by autonomous applied sciences. “In a world the place AI and robotics meet all wants, folks could have something they need,” he mentioned.
The concept marks an evolution in Musk’s pondering. He has lengthy been an advocate for UBI — a system the place each citizen receives a set stipend no matter employment — to cushion the job displacement brought on by automation. However as know-how advances at breakneck velocity, Musk now argues that merely assembly fundamental wants is not bold sufficient.
“We’re speaking a couple of post-scarcity world,” he defined — one the place the problem just isn’t productiveness, however distribution. In such a world, folks don’t simply survive — they thrive, with entry to items, companies, and experiences beforehand thought-about luxuries.
The transition from UBI to UHI, as Musk frames it, hinges on a large leap in productiveness. Robots and AI methods would deal with every part from manufacturing and logistics to coding and caregiving. With provide constraints lifted, costs would drop, and a lifetime of consolation would develop into universally accessible. In Musk’s phrases: “You may assume it, and you’ll have it.”
What this implies for India
For growing economies like India, Musk’s imaginative and prescient could sound wildly futuristic — if not outright utopian. But it’s additionally deeply related. India faces the twin pressures of a quickly rising inhabitants and restricted financial alternatives. Whereas the digital financial system is creating new pathways, tens of millions nonetheless work in low-paying, low-skill jobs. UHI reframes the dialog — not round employment, however dignity, entry, and aspiration.
Past economics, Musk’s UHI imaginative and prescient represents a philosophical reorientation. It’s not about changing the work ethic, however redefining human objective. If folks not must work to outlive, what do they select to do? How can we spend our time in a world the place every part we want is automated?
Within the podcast, Musk didn’t provide all of the solutions — however he made one factor clear: “The longer term goes to be bizarre.” Bizarre, maybe — however additionally probably liberating.
