As the global conversation about AI’s energy consumption heats up, Belgian startup AiCandy has created a satirical ad that imagines a 2036 scenario with an unusual solution to the crisis.
In a now-viral video today, “old” AI leaders Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, and Sam Altman co-founded Energym to solve the “AI energy crisis.” The company in the AI video was a fitness powerhouse where people generate electricity through gym classes.
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Here’s what the AI clip shows:
The viral clip used advanced artificial intelligence to show old versions of Sam Altman, Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos. After a “conversation” by the three tech leaders, the video shifts to Energym’s vision, where people are seen participating in cycling and rowing classes to provide the power necessary for AI systems.
In the AI-generated video, old Musk is heard saying that by 2030, 80% of people will lose their jobs to AI. Bezos adds that while people have no money or purpose, they have “a lot of time on their hands.”
“What if we could use people’s energy to power machines that took away their jobs,” Musk said.
Altman then added, “Energy has solved our need for energy and your need for purpose.”
The video sarcastically suggested the use of human beings to physically power machines that replace their work.
Although the video is clearly labeled as satire, the “disturbing” nature of the video has sparked a huge debate on the internet about the future of technology and human labour.
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Watch AI’s viral clip here:
In the caption of the viral video, AiCandy wrote: “ENERGYM: Move the world” They explained their concept by saying that the year is 2036 and 80% of jobs have been replaced by artificial intelligence and robotics.
“After the stock market crash of 2026, the economy faltered, and America’s tech elite had to find a new way to keep the world moving: Energym—human-powered artificial intelligence systems that would satisfy both the machine’s need for energy and people’s need for purpose,” they wrote.
The clip gained widespread attention on social media and the original Instagram Reel has millions of views.
In an interview with Business Insider, AiCandy founders Hans Buyse and Jan De Loore said they were surprised by the scale of the response to their video.
The 2025 company is creating AI-generated video ads to respond to criticism that AI tools consume a lot of energy, the founders say.
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Here’s how netizens reacted:
Social media users were horrified by the idea and flooded the comments section with reactions.
US Senator Chris Murphy said “It doesn’t feel like a parody of something real”
“Great prediction, looking forward to it…” said the user.
Another added: “Don’t give them wtf ideas”
“It’s scary because we know what they’re capable of,” said one netizen.
Several users pointed out the striking resemblance to an episode of the sci-fi drama, stating that “the black mirror was a warning, not a plan”.
One user commented: “Remember when owner X said we’re all a stupid mass computer. Then this week his friend Sam Altman said feeding people is a waste of energy.”
“Why do we support AI, data centers, when those who do are threatening the US no food jobs clean air water high energy bills?” he asked.
