Elon Musk: Humanoid Robots Could 10X the Global Economy and Usher in an Era of Universal High Income

Elon Musk: Humanoid robots could 10X the global economy.

“I think we're headed to a radically different world. I think a good world, an interesting world. My prediction actually for humanoid robots is that ultimately there will be tens of billions. I think everyone will want to have their personal robot. You can think of it as though you had your own personal C-3PO or R2-D2 but even better. Who wouldn't want to have their own personal C-3PO-R2-D2? That would be pretty great.

I also think it unlocks an immense amount of economic potential because when you think about what is the output of an economy, it is productivity per capita times population or capita. Once you have humanoid robots, the actual economic output potential is tremendous. It's really unlimited.

Potentially, we could have an economy 10 times the size of the current global economy where no one wants for anything. You know, sometimes in AI they talk about universal basic income. I think it's actually going to be universal high income where anyone can have any goods or services that they want.”

Interview at US-Saudi Forum, May 13, 2025