In a series of provocative interviews and posts throughout 2025, Emad Mostaque - founder of Stability AI and a leading voice in open-source AI - has issued a stark warning: Artificial intelligence is on the verge of dismantling the foundational contract of modern society - the link between human labor and economic value.
Speaking on podcasts like "The Lunar Society" and in X threads, Mostaque predicts that within ~900 days (roughly 2.5 years from late 2025, placing the inflection around mid-2028), AI will surpass human competence in most cognitive tasks while costing fractions of a salary. "Most knowledge work will be commoditized," he argues, rendering traditional employment obsolete for vast swaths of the workforce.
The Breaking Point: AI Cheaper and Better Than Humans
Mostaque's timeline aligns with rapid advances: Models like Grok 4, Claude 4, and open-source equivalents are already automating coding, writing, analysis, and design - roles comprising ~60% of advanced economies' jobs. As costs plummet (inference dropping below $0.01 per query), companies will prioritize AI over payroll. Historical parallels? The Industrial Revolution displaced artisans; this one targets white-collar professions en masse.
Without intervention, Mostaque foresees mass unemployment, wealth hyper-concentration in AI owners (tech giants, investors), and potential social collapse. "Capitalism as we know it breaks when labor no longer equals money," he states, echoing concerns from economists like Erik Brynjolfsson, who estimate AI could automate 45% of work activities in the U.S. alone.
The Antidote: Universal Basic AI
Mostaque's solution is radical democratization: A "Universal Basic AI" - personal, sovereign models aligned to individual users, not corporations.
Open-source, privacy-preserving systems (like Stable Diffusion's legacy) would empower citizens to compete, create value independently, and retain agency.
He advocates:
- Open models to prevent monopolies.
- Personal AI instances running locally or via decentralized compute.
- Ethical alignment prioritizing human flourishing over profit.
Without this, closed systems risk entrenching autocracy: Governments or firms controlling superintelligent tools could surveil, manipulate, or economically marginalize populations.
Broader Risks and Calls to Action
Mostaque doesn't shy from existential stakes: Misaligned superintelligence poses catastrophic threats if rushed. Yet he remains techno-optimistic, believing proactive governance - international treaties, safety benchmarks, open research - can steer toward abundance.
His views resonate amid 2025's turbulence: Layoffs in tech (over 200,000 jobs cut), rising inequality debates, and pilot UBI programs worldwide. As AI investment tops $200 billion annually, the window for shaping outcomes narrows.
In Mostaque's words: "We're at an inflection point bigger than the internet or electricity. We can build a post-scarcity world - or a dystopia."
The labor-money contract, forged over centuries, faces its greatest test. Whether capitalism evolves or fractures depends on choices made now.
Also read:
- College-Educated Americans Hit Record Share of Unemployment: A White-Collar Wake-Up Call
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- AI Shovels for AI Gold Rush: French Startup Arcads AI Raises $16M on API Wrappers Alone
Author: Slava Vasipenok
Founder and CEO of QUASA (quasa.io) - Daily insights on Web3, AI, Crypto, and Freelance. Stay updated on finance, technology trends, and creator tools - with sources and real value.
Innovative entrepreneur with over 20 years of experience in IT, fintech, and blockchain. Specializes in decentralized solutions for freelancing, helping to overcome the barriers of traditional finance, especially in developing regions.
