Meeting participant warns AI-driven automation could threaten Social Security, Medicare funding

A meeting participant warned that rapid advances in artificial intelligence and robotics could make "work ... optional," creating major questions about how entitlement programs would be financed if large-scale job loss reduces tax revenue.

"Elon Musk, you know, who I don't like and disagree with on everything is not is not a dumb guy," the participant said, adding that Musk predicts AI and robots will do "everything that you need." The speaker asked how people and government programs would survive if work becomes optional, saying: "Oh, you're going to get a check. Really? But there is no government because you're not paying any taxes, right? What happens to Social Security? What happens to Medicare and Medicaid?" The speaker added, "We are looking at a revolutionary technology far more consequential than anything that we've ever seen in the history of humanity. We are not prepared to deal with it."

The participant questioned who would determine the size of any universal payment and how much individuals would receive, saying, "Who's going to determine the check that you get? Really, how much are you going to get? How much am I going to get?" The remarks emphasized uncertainty about revenue sources if jobs decline and called for more serious policy discussion.

The transcript does not identify the speaker by name or official role; the article attributes quotes to "the meeting participant." No specific policy proposals, draft bills, or funding figures were given in the record. The participant repeatedly characterized the technology as "revolutionary" and said policymakers have not sufficiently debated its fiscal and social consequences.

The record contains no formal motion, vote, or reference to a specific statute or agency action. Next procedural steps were not stated in the transcript.