Tesla and SpaceX CEO, Elon Musk, has projected a future where work becomes a matter of choice rather than necessity, driven by rapid advancements in artificial intelligence and robotics.

Speaking at the US-Saudi Investment Forum in Washington, Musk said that in the next 10 to 20 years, traditional employment may resemble leisure activities such as gardening, gaming, or sports.

“In ten to 20 years, my prediction is that work will be optional. It’ll be like playing sports or a video game. If you want to work, it’s like growing vegetables in your backyard — some people do it simply because they enjoy it,” he said.

Musk, whose wealth is estimated at $360 billion, also argued that ongoing technological progress could significantly diminish the importance of money.

“There is only one way to make everyone wealthy, and that’s AI and robotics. There will still be limits on power, but at some point, currency becomes irrelevant,” he said.

The billionaire entrepreneur has been developing humanoid robots known as Tesla Bots or Optimus which he believes could eventually handle routine tasks, reduce poverty, and make work optional for millions.

Although some economists remain cautious about the pace of such a transformation, Musk insisted that automation will fundamentally reshape society.

“Work will be something people choose to do, not something they are forced to do to survive,” he said, adding that the future may allow people to devote more time to creativity, hobbies and personal fulfilment.