Musk: “AI-driven productivity could lead to not only universal basic income, but a very high level of prosperity.”
In a video address to the Smart Mobility Summit in Tel Aviv, Musk said automation could reshape the global economic model.
“Within five to ten years, 90% of all transportation will be powered by artificial intelligence,” said Elon Musk, owner of Tesla and SpaceX, on Monday during a video appearance at the Samson International Smart Mobility Summit 2026, held at Expo Tel Aviv at the initiative of Israel’s Ministry of Transportation and in cooperation with Keren Hayesod.
Musk, who had originally been scheduled to attend the conference as its guest of honor, ultimately participated remotely. He had confirmed his participation for the conference’s original date in March, before it was postponed following Operation “Roaring Lion.” In recent days, doubts emerged over whether he would travel to Israel, particularly after joining US President Donald Trump’s visit to China. Officials at the Ministry of Transportation had hoped Musk would continue on to Israel after the trip, but that did not happen.
During his remarks, Musk apologized for his absence and said preparations for SpaceX’s planned Nasdaq IPO had prevented him from attending in person. He added that he hoped to visit Israel in the near future. Musk was interviewed on stage by Daniella Gera-Margaliot, Deputy Director General at the Ministry of Transport and Road Safety. Their discussion focused on the future of autonomous transportation and the role of artificial intelligence in mobility.
Musk argued that autonomous driving without human intervention would ultimately prove safer than human driving. “The vehicle will feel human, you will really be able to sense the entity inside the vehicle. It feels alive,” he said. According to Musk, Tesla already operates vehicles “without people at all and without safety monitoring systems,” adding that such vehicles would likely become widely available in the United States by the end of the year “and hopefully in Israel as well.”
He also addressed the future of robotics, saying advances in artificial intelligence are expected to drive rapid expansion in the field. “Tesla is already doing it now, because a car is basically a robot on four wheels,” he said. “In the future, there will also be humanoid robots. I think there will be many more intelligent robots in the world that behave in a human way.”
Addressing concerns about automation and safety risks, Musk said he believes AI-driven productivity could eventually create “not only a universal basic income, but a very high level of prosperity.”
Toward the end of the discussion, Musk was asked about the possibility of a future without wars. In a philosophical response, he said that “complete peace may require too much oppression of people.” According to Musk, “the challenge is how to create a world with little conflict, but without oppression.”
