Elon Musk says AI and robots are the solution to US debt after his DOGE experience

After serving in the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), Elon Musk argued in a recent interview that artificial intelligence and robots are the only viable way to eliminate the United States’ national debt. He made the statement during a conversation with biographer Walter Isaacson on the podcast The Builders, according to excerpts released on Saturday, 17.

The only way to solve our national debt is with AI and robots.

From government experience to technological proposal

DOGE was presented as an initiative to reduce waste and make the federal government more efficient. Its actions included canceling contracts, reducing structures, and laying off employees. The savings expectations were ambitious, but in April 2025, Musk himself reduced the projection from $1 trillion to $150 billion, clarifying that the figure was a forecast and not a proven result.

Criticism of political resistance and time spent in government

Musk criticized the political environment in Washington, saying that neither the presidency, Congress, nor the judiciary showed enough willingness to cut spending. He also admitted that his four-month stint at the White House during Donald Trump’s administration kept him away from his businesses longer than it should have, and that he should have limited his participation to one or two months and returned to focusing on AI sooner.

In his conversation with Isaacson, the businessman attributed some of the difficulties to the political cost of halting funding. According to him, cuts create adversaries, and Trump did not like receiving complaints from people affected by the decisions.

The bet on robots and the connection to Tesla

The technology presented as a solution to public finances also plays a central role in Musk’s business plans. At Tesla, the humanoid robot Optimus has become part of the expansion strategy beyond automobiles, with the aim of performing tasks in the physical world. However, turning this ambition into large-scale production still faces challenges related to components, suppliers, and industrial capacity.

Production challenges and limitations of the forecast

Musk’s prediction about the American debt does not mean that these products will solve the fiscal problem. The manufacturing of humanoid robots depends on a complex supply chain that is still under construction.

Walter Isaacson’s interview and series

The interview is part of Isaacson’s new series, produced by Kaleidoscope, which is set to premiere on Tuesday, October 20, 2026. The program features conversations with entrepreneurs and researchers about the technologies they develop and their consequences.