Elon Musk Predicts Money Will Not Matter by 2036 as AI and Robots Flood Markets

According to The Economist, Elon Musk predicted in late July 2026 that money will cease to matter by 2036 as artificial intelligence and robots outproduce human demand. In an extended interview with Economist editor-in-chief Zanny Minton Beddoes at Texas Gigafactory, Musk questioned the necessity of currency once goods become abundant enough to satisfy basic needs including food, housing, transport, and entertainment.

Musk forecasted deflation rather than inflation, with robot and AI-driven production outpacing the money supply. He suggested governments could issue direct cash payments to citizens once material abundance reaches sufficiency. Musk acknowledged the transition will be "bumpy," pointing to income transfers as the likely focus of future policy debates.