Universal Basic Income in the Age of AI

May 28, 2024

Korean Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung proposes a “universal basic income” as an inevitable system to ease economic hardship caused by AI. This concept involves giving every citizen a certain amount of money regardless of their assets and income. The idea has been partially implemented in pilot programs in countries such as Britain, Canada, Brazil, and parts of Europe. The proposal is gaining traction, particularly after the positive effects of emergency funds given out during the COVID-19 pandemic. Some advocates, like New York City mayoral candidate Andrew Yang, are pushing for a more radical approach, such as giving every citizen $1,000 per month to prepare for potential job losses in the age of artificial intelligence.