Former OpenAI researcher Miles Brundage has sparked a significant conversation about universal basic income (UBI) by proposing that policymakers should consider implementing a $10,000 monthly stipend to offset job displacement caused by artificial intelligence advancements. This proposal represents a dramatic increase from current UBI experiments, which typically provide between $500 and $1,500 monthly.
Brundage, who served as OpenAI’s senior policy advisor and head of the AGI readiness team before resigning in 2024, shared his vision on X (formerly Twitter) this week. He argued that while $1,000 monthly payments reflect what’s feasible today, $10,000 monthly payments could become realistic “in a few years with AI-enabled growth.” His proposal assumes that AI will generate substantial economic growth that could fund such ambitious social programs.
Universal basic income differs from guaranteed basic income programs currently being tested across various cities and states. UBI would provide recurring government payments to the entire population without conditions, while guaranteed basic income targets specific populations based on socioeconomic criteria. The concept has gained traction among tech leaders concerned about AI’s impact on employment.
Brundage joins a growing chorus of AI industry leaders, including Elon Musk and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, who have championed basic income programs. Altman notably funded one of the largest UBI studies, providing recipients with $1,000 monthly for three years to study the effects of unconditional cash transfers.
In his 2024 resignation blog post, Brundage emphasized that labor disruptions caused by AI were a primary concern driving his decision to leave OpenAI. He expressed worry about AI disrupting opportunities for people seeking work while simultaneously believing that “humanity should eventually remove the obligation to work for a living.” He argued this goal represents “one of the strongest arguments for building AI and AGI in the first place.”
However, Brundage warned that current political, cultural, and policy systems aren’t prepared for this transition. He cautioned that a “naive shift toward a post-work world risks civilizational stagnation,” referencing the dystopian future depicted in Pixar’s WALL-E. His comments highlight the complex challenges of managing AI’s economic impact while maintaining societal purpose and engagement.
AI advancements are already threatening entry-level jobs across multiple industries, making the UBI debate increasingly urgent as automation accelerates.
Key Quotes
I think that a significantly more generous UBI experiment than has been tried so far (say, $10k/month vs. $1k/month) would show big effects.
Miles Brundage, former OpenAI senior policy advisor, made this statement on X, arguing that current UBI experiments are too modest to demonstrate the true potential of universal basic income in an AI-driven economy.
$1k/month is relevant to what’s feasible policy-wise today. $10k/month is relevant to what will be feasible policy-wise in a few years with AI-enabled growth.
Brundage explained his reasoning for the dramatic increase in proposed UBI amounts, suggesting that AI will generate sufficient economic growth to make such generous programs financially viable within years.
In the near-term, I worry a lot about AI disrupting opportunities for people who desperately want work, but I think it’s simultaneously true that humanity should eventually remove the obligation to work for a living and that doing so is one of the strongest arguments for building AI and AGI in the first place.
From Brundage’s 2024 resignation blog post, this quote reveals his complex perspective on AI’s labor impact—acknowledging both the immediate disruption concerns and the long-term vision of liberating humanity from mandatory work.
That is not something we’re prepared for politically, culturally, or otherwise, and needs to be part of the policy conversation. A naive shift toward a post-work world risks civilizational stagnation (see: WALL-E), and much more thought and debate about this is needed.
Brundage warned that society lacks the necessary frameworks to manage a transition to widespread AI automation, cautioning that simply providing income without addressing purpose and engagement could lead to societal decline.
Our Take
Brundage’s proposal illuminates a fundamental tension in AI development: the technology promises unprecedented productivity gains while simultaneously threatening the employment structures that give millions of people purpose and identity. His $10,000 monthly UBI figure isn’t arbitrary—it represents a livable wage in most developed economies, suggesting he envisions AI displacing not just entry-level jobs but middle-class employment as well.
What’s particularly striking is his WALL-E reference, acknowledging that financial security alone won’t solve the existential challenges of a post-work society. This nuance is often missing from tech industry UBI advocacy, which tends to treat income replacement as a complete solution. The real question isn’t whether AI will generate enough wealth to fund generous UBI programs—it likely will—but whether humanity can reimagine purpose, community, and fulfillment outside traditional employment structures. Brundage’s insider perspective suggests this transition may arrive faster than policymakers anticipate, making these conversations urgently necessary rather than theoretical exercises.
Why This Matters
This proposal represents a critical inflection point in the conversation about AI’s economic impact and society’s preparedness for widespread automation. As AI systems become more capable, the threat to employment across multiple sectors intensifies, making policy responses increasingly urgent.
Brundage’s $10,000 monthly UBI proposal is significant because it comes from someone with insider knowledge of AI development trajectories at one of the world’s leading AI companies. His perspective carries weight given his former role overseeing AGI readiness at OpenAI, suggesting he has visibility into capabilities that may soon disrupt labor markets more dramatically than current public discourse acknowledges.
The timing is particularly relevant as AI tools are already displacing entry-level workers in fields like customer service, content creation, and data entry. If AI-driven economic growth materializes as predicted, it could generate the tax revenue necessary to fund ambitious social programs. However, Brundage’s warnings about civilizational stagnation highlight a deeper concern: maintaining human purpose and societal cohesion in a post-work world requires more than just financial support. This debate will shape policy decisions for decades, affecting how societies balance technological progress with human welfare and meaning.
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Source: https://www.businessinsider.com/ex-openai-miles-brundage-ubi-ai-jobs-market-2025-8