Elon Musk: AI will take all jobs, including mine
Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla and the world’s wealthiest individual, recently issued a stark warning that resonates deeply with growing anxieties about artificial intelligence: no job, not even his own, is safe from the encroaching capabilities of AI. This pronouncement, delivered via X (formerly Twitter), the social media platform he owns, came in response to a post extolling the virtues of OpenAI’s ChatGPT. The original message highlighted a cancer survivor’s successful use of ChatGPT to challenge medical opinions, advocate for herself, and make more informed treatment decisions. The user speculated that this emerging dynamic would inevitably “ruffle the medical industry and doctors’ feathers,” predicting a “battle incoming” between traditional medicine and AI, asserting that “Doctors can be wrong, and AI can be useful and save lives.”
For Musk, this scenario is not a point of debate but a clear trajectory. He unequivocally stated, “AI is already better than most doctors. That’s the honest truth. And it will become far better. Same for all jobs tbh, including mine.” This candid admission stands out in Silicon Valley, where many tech leaders, even as they champion AI efficiency and oversee job reductions, rarely project such a future onto their own roles.
Musk’s comments immediately ignited a flurry of reactions across social media. Some users expressed admiration, envisioning an “amazing” AI future where everyone could access “Elon in real time,” or offering him “peace and so much love” when he is eventually replaced. Others, however, voiced palpable unease, questioning the societal implications: “So, is there a solution? Or will all of us get paid to do nothing while AI does all the heavy lifting for us?” Musk offered no direct answer to this pressing query.
Beyond Musk’s individual forecast, the broader employment landscape is already bracing for significant AI-driven shifts. High-profile investors like Mark Cuban advise proactive preparation rather than panic, urging individuals to acquire new skills relevant to AI and cultivate human-centric abilities that machines cannot easily replicate. Their argument posits continued demand for human oversight in programming, training, and managing AI systems, as well as educating others on their use. The World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs 2025 report underscores this dual reality: while 41% of global employers (and 48% in the U.S.) anticipate downsizing due to AI, a substantial 77% expect to upskill their current staff to collaborate with AI, and 47% are preparing to transition workers from shrinking roles into new positions.
Musk’s latest warning coincided with OpenAI’s rollout of GPT-5, the newest iteration of its widely adopted AI chatbot. OpenAI describes GPT-5 as evolving into “more an active thought partner,” capable of proactively identifying concerns, asking clarifying questions, and delivering more precise, context-aware responses. The company emphasizes GPT-5’s enhanced safety and reliability across diverse scenarios, with a particular focus on healthcare applications. It is worth noting that Musk is not merely an observer of this technological evolution; he is a key participant. His company, xAI, founded two years ago, develops advanced AI tools, including the powerful Grok chatbot. Despite criticisms regarding Grok’s occasional dissemination of misinformation, its latest version, SuperGrok, is widely considered by experts to be among the most capable AI models currently available.
The relentless advancement of AI models like GPT-5 increasingly transforms Musk’s “prophecy” from a far-off science fiction concept into an impending reality. The stakes are immense, as increasingly capable AI systems are poised to redefine not only labor markets but the very essence of human work. If even a visionary like Elon Musk believes his own highly complex and influential role can be automated, it compels a more unsettling question for everyone else: what happens next?