The article discusses Sam Altman’s proposal to conduct a large-scale study on universal basic income (UBI) in the United States. Altman, the CEO of OpenAI, aims to launch a pilot program called the Guaranteed Basic Income (GBI) in 2024, providing cash payments to thousands of participants across multiple states. The study aims to gather data on the potential impacts of UBI on various aspects of life, including employment, health, and overall well-being. Altman plans to fund the study through his personal wealth and is seeking partnerships with researchers and policymakers. The article highlights the growing interest in UBI as a potential solution to address income inequality and the challenges posed by automation and job displacement. However, critics argue that UBI could discourage work and strain government budgets. The proposed study aims to provide empirical evidence to inform the ongoing debate on the feasibility and effectiveness of UBI policies.
Source: https://www.businessinsider.com/ubi-sam-altman-study-universal-basic-income-researcher-gbi-2024-12