Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has shared a speculative vision of an economic future where traditional currency loses its significance. According to a post on X (formerly Twitter) on June 16, 2026, Musk posits that if artificial intelligence were to harness even a tiny fraction of the Sun's power, it could achieve intelligence millions of times greater than humanity, fundamentally altering the global economy.
The Sun's Power and AI Intelligence
Musk elaborated that capturing just one-millionth of the Sun's total power for AI systems would grant them computational capabilities vastly exceeding human collective intelligence. This monumental leap in AI capability, he suggests, would necessitate an unprecedented scale of industrial infrastructure extending beyond Earth.
Achieving this would involve manufacturing solar panels and radiators directly on the Moon. These components would then be launched into deep space using a 'mass driver,' an electromagnetic system designed to propel material into orbit without traditional rockets. This ambitious undertaking underscores the scale of energy harnessing Musk envisions for a superintelligent AI future.
Mass and Energy as the New Currency
Long before such advanced AI capabilities are fully realized, Musk believes the global economy itself could undergo a profound transformation. He stated that in this future, "Conventional money will no longer be relevant. Mass and energy will take the place of dollars."
This perspective aligns with Musk's view that energy and computation are the ultimate foundations of economic productivity. In a world dominated by highly advanced AI and automation, access to raw materials and abundant energy could become far more crucial than traditional measures of wealth. His remarks also echo concepts from the Kardashev Scale, which classifies civilizations based on their energy harnessing capabilities.
A Long-Term, Speculative Vision
While the link between AI capabilities, computing power, and energy resources is widely accepted within the technology sector, Musk's prediction of money becoming obsolete remains highly speculative. Today, conventional currencies form the bedrock of the global economy. However, Musk's long-term vision suggests that the rise of superintelligent AI, coupled with humanity's ability to tap into vast energy sources, could redefine wealth, replacing financial instruments with the fundamental elements of mass and energy.