Elon Musk predicted on September 9 that AI and robots could double the global economy within a decade, renewing optimism about automation’s potential to expand production. Within hours, a safety lead from Anthropic warned of a more than 10% chance of human extinction from AI risks, highlighting the sharp contrast between economic expectations and safety concerns. Musk previously estimated that AI alone could expand global output by 20% to 30%, while robotics could increase production by many multiples once robots can manufacture other robots. Tesla is preparing its Optimus humanoid robot program for large-scale production, with a Fremont, California, line designed for 1 million robots annually and a planned Texas line targeting long-term capacity of 10 million. The economic impact will depend on adoption, infrastructure, electricity supply and manufacturing execution. AI agents that interact with smart contracts and cryptocurrency wallets could extend automation into payments, trading and decentralized applications. Musk has linked the technology to lower production costs, reduced labor scarcity and a possible decline in money’s relevance by 2036, while Tesla said Optimus construction at Fremont began after the Model S and Model X lines were decommissioned, with production anticipated later this year.