Universal basic income (UBI) ideas are surging as companies start implementing artificial intelligence (AI) initiatives.

Last week, several high-profile companies, including Amazon, UPS, Dow, Home Depot, and Nike, announced layoffs linked to this new trend, with over 52,000 positions being eliminated in total, many of these related to their need to slim down or invest in AI alternatives.

David Mericle, chief U.S. economist at Goldman Sachs, stated:

“Companies are increasingly discussing lay-offs and appear eager to use artificial intelligence to reduce labor costs,”

While these companies have not directly attributed these layoffs to AI, many of these refer to “removing bureaucracy,” like Amazon, hinting at the possibility of the implementation of AI to streamline internal processes.

As this complex situation unfolds, the UK minister for investment, Lord Jason Stockwood, referred to the possibility of adopting a UBI program to support workers in industries affected by AI substitution.

Talking to the Financial Times, he declared:

“Undoubtedly we’re going to have to think really carefully about how we soft-land those industries that go away, so some sort of universal basic income, some sort of lifelong mechanism as well so people can retrain”

Before, Stockwood suggested introducing an AI tax, with tech companies footing the bill to fund these UBI programs. Stockwood joins the ranks of personalities like Elon Musk, Dario Amodei, and others who have promoted the idea of UBI as a balancing act against human labor becoming obsolete.

While he recognized that this was not part of the government’s official policies, he stated that there were people “definitely” talking about it. The implementation of such a policy by a G-7 country could set a precedent for other countries to follow as AI substitution becomes commonplace in the future.

Read more: Will AI Make Universal Basic Income a Reality? Here’s How It Could Be Implemented

• What recent trend has prompted discussions around universal basic income (UBI)?
  UBI ideas are gaining attention as major companies implement AI initiatives.

• How many jobs were eliminated by companies due to AI initiatives?
  Over 52,000 positions have been cut by companies like Amazon, UPS, and Nike, probably in response to the integration of AI technology.

• What did UK Investment Minister Lord Jason Stockwood say about UBI?
  Stockwood suggested that UBI could be a solution to support workers in industries impacted by AI, emphasizing the need for retraining.

• What alternative funding method for UBI has Stockwood proposed?
  He proposed an AI tax where technology companies would contribute to funding UBI programs, highlighting discussions surrounding this initiative.

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