Elon Musk says technological advances could reduce the importance of money within about a decade. In an interview with The Economist, the Tesla and SpaceX CEO states that by 2036 AI and robots may provide more goods and services than humans can consume, raising the question of what people would need money for. When asked how people would live if many jobs are taken over by AI, Musk replies that people may rely on a “universal high income.” He also argues there is a possibility China will lead in AI if it has enough computing power, pointing to Chinese companies’ progress even with limited compute. The sources also note Musk’s comments about his own political involvement. He says he got “a little too involved in politics” and “got carried away,” referencing his role around the 2024 U.S. election that led to Donald Trump winning. After Trump’s re-election, Musk was appointed as a senior advisor and co-head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which the reports say stopped operating on July 4, 2026. Musk describes DOGE’s aim as promoting sensible spending and preventing fraud, while saying he received criticism over his involvement.