Elon Musk has claimed that money will become meaningless by 2036, as AI and humanoid robots drive down the cost of food, housing and transportation to near-zero levels. Speaking at Tesla's Texas Gigafactory in late July, the chief executive officer suggested that artificial intelligence will surpass "the sum of human intelligence within five years". Tesla reported record Q2 2025 deliveries of 480,126 vehicles and 25.5% year-on-year revenue growth to $28.24 billion. Active Full Self-Driving subscriptions reached 1.48 million, up 56% year-on-year. However, economists including Tyler Cowen and Noah Smith argue that cheap manufactured goods merely shift scarcity to status goods and prime real estate, rather than eliminating it. Polymarket assigns just a 14.5% probability that Tesla will release its Optimus humanoid robot by 31 December.

Morgan Stanley estimates the humanoid robotics market could reach $5 trillion by 2050, with both Nvidia and Tesla pursuing opportunities in the space. Nvidia has developed Isaac GR00T, a universal AI foundation model for humanoid robots, alongside its Halos safety system. The company's Jetson Thor supercomputer is used by Boston Dynamics and Amazon Robotics for AI training and simulation. CEO Jensen Huang stated Nvidia's physical AI revenue has reached a $10 billion annual run rate. He predicts it will become the company's "next $100 billion business" within 10 years. Nvidia currently generates $48.5 billion in free cash flow, demonstrating its ability to invest in growth whilst maintaining profitability. The company is positioning itself as a key infrastructure provider for the robotics industry.

Tesla and SpaceX, both led by Elon Musk, attract growth-focused investors with ambitious visions in electric vehicles, robotics, and space travel. Both companies are valued above $1 trillion. Tesla's shares have fallen 28% in 2025 but maintain strong financials. The company generated roughly $104 billion in sales over the past four quarters, with $3.8 billion in net income. Free cash flow totalled $5.8 billion, supporting investments in robotaxis and humanoid robots planned for consumer sales next year. SpaceX remains unprofitable but offers substantial growth potential through projects including Mars missions and space-based data centres. The company's $1.5 trillion valuation reflects long-term ambitions. Tesla presents a more established business model with current profitability, whilst SpaceX offers higher-risk growth potential tied to future technological achievements.