Altman, Who Conducted $1,000-a-Month Basic Income Experiment, Says "Sharing AI Wealth Is Needed Over Basic Income"

Cash Transfers to 3,000 Low-Income Participants Over Three Years
Spending Increased, but Limited Improvements in Health and Well-Being
Discussion Expands Beyond Cash Assistance to Participation in the AI Economy

Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, has taken a step back from his previously strong support for Universal Basic Income (UBI). As the spread of artificial intelligence (AI) accelerates changes in the labor market, he argues that simply providing cash payments will not be enough to address the inequality and concentration of wealth that society will face in the future.

Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI. Reuters Yonhap News

On May 6, Business Insider, a U.S. financial media outlet, reported that on April 30, Altman said in an interview with The Atlantic’s CEO Nicholas Thompson, “I no longer believe in universal basic income as strongly as I once did.” In the interview, Altman explained that while a fixed cash payment “can be useful and in some ways is a good idea,” what is needed in the next phase—when AI disrupts the balance between labor and capital—is “a collective alignment around shared gains.”

However, Altman has not completely rejected the concept of basic income itself. His recent remarks indicate that discussions about the social safety net in the AI era are shifting from “how much cash should be paid” to “who owns the means of production and the benefits of growth in the AI economy.”

 Three-Year Experiment of $1,000 Monthly Payments Showed Both Effectiveness and Limitations of Cash Transfers

Altman has been regarded as a leading figure driving the conversation on UBI in Silicon Valley. Through the nonprofit research organization OpenResearch, he supported large-scale cash payment experiments targeting low-income groups in Texas and Illinois. From November 2020 to October 2023, 3,000 participants aged 21 to 40 took part in the program. Of these, 1,000 received $1,000 per month, while a control group of 2,000 received $50 per month. Altman reportedly raised a total of $60 million for the experiment, including $14 million of his own money.

Altman has been regarded as a leading figure in driving the discussion on Universal Basic Income (UBI) in Silicon Valley. Through the nonprofit research organization OpenResearch, he supported large-scale cash payment experiments targeting low-income groups in Texas and Illinois in the United States. Pixabay

The experiment demonstrated both the effects and the limitations of cash payments. Participants who received $1,000 per month increased their spending, with most of the additional expenditures going toward basic living expenses such as food, housing, and transportation. Wired cited OpenResearch’s findings, noting that recipients primarily used the cash to meet basic needs.

However, there was no clear evidence that the cash payments fundamentally transformed overall quality of life. Business Insider pointed out that while recipients’ consumption increased, there was limited evidence of improvements in healthcare access or overall health and well-being. CBS also reported that although the $1,000 monthly payment represented about a 40% increase in recipients’ income, there were no dramatic changes in labor participation or health indicators.

Shifting the Focus from Cash Payments to Sharing the Benefits of AI-Driven Growth

Altman’s interest has now moved beyond simple cash redistribution to exploring ways for citizens to directly participate in the wealth creation structure generated by AI. He has previously suggested providing individuals with a portion of AI computing power, allowing them to use, sell, or trade it. This proposal stems from concerns that if access to AI services becomes limited and expensive, existing wealthy individuals could secure even greater access, deepening social stratification.

OpenAI recently proposed in its policy document "Industrial Policy for the Intelligent Era" a plan to establish a Public Wealth Fund to ensure that all citizens can share in the benefits of AI-driven economic growth. Photo by Reuters Yonhap News

OpenAI also proposed in its policy document “Industrial Policy for the Intelligent Era,” released in April, the creation of a Public Wealth Fund to ensure all citizens can share in the economic benefits of AI-driven growth. OpenAI explained that this fund could serve as a mechanism to provide a stake in AI-driven growth even to those citizens who do not invest in financial markets.

Basic Income Experiments for AI-Displaced Workers Underway in the U.S.

Meanwhile, a separate basic income experiment for workers who have lost jobs or income opportunities due to AI has begun in the United States. According to the IT newsletter “Blood in the Machine,” at the end of March, the nonprofit organizations AI Commons Project and What We Will launched the “AI Dividend” program, providing unconditional monthly payments of $1,000 for one year to 25 to 50 workers affected by AI.

The program has secured $300,000 in initial funding, and the organizers plan to encourage major AI companies to participate with the goal of distributing a total of $3 million this year. Gizmodo also introduced the program, noting that the very name “AI Dividend” may provoke negative reactions among critics of AI proliferation, as it can be perceived as a way to compensate those harmed after AI threatens jobs.

Debates regarding solutions for wealth distribution in the AI era are expected to continue for some time. While cash payments can help cushion short-term shocks and support basic living standards, growing concerns highlight that if the wealth and productivity generated by AI become concentrated among a handful of companies and capital owners, more structural solutions will be necessary.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.