Former OpenAI researcher says a $10,000 monthly UBI will be 'feasible' with AI-enabled growth

Imagine receiving a generous monthly payment of $10,000 with no strings attached. Former OpenAI researcher Miles Brundage suggests that this could soon be a reality as artificial intelligence transforms the economy. Tech leaders have long debated the concept of universal basic income (UBI) as a solution for job displacement caused by AI advancements. Unlike targeted basic income programs that many local governments are experimenting with—providing modest payments between $500 and $1,500 monthly based on socioeconomic status—Brundage argues for a broader approach. He recently expressed on social media that policymakers should consider a much more substantial UBI initiative. "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," he stated. Brundage explained that the potential economic growth fueled by AI could make such a UBI feasible. He contrasted today’s typical $1,000 monthly payments with what he believes will be possible in the near future. "$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," he noted. The rise of AI is already impacting entry-level jobs, prompting many industry leaders, including Elon Musk, to support basic income initiatives. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has invested in one of the largest UBI studies, which provided recipients with $1,000 monthly over three years. Having resigned as OpenAI's senior policy advisor and head of the AGI readiness team in 2024, Brundage stated that the implications of AI on the workforce weighed heavily on his mind. He expressed concerns about AI disrupting opportunities for those seeking employment. Nevertheless, he also believes that society should ultimately progress towards a world where the obligation to work for a living is eliminated, arguing that this is one of the primary reasons for advancing AI and AGI. Brundage cautioned that current systems are ill-equipped to handle this potential shift. "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," he concluded.