OpenAI CEO Sam Altman Has An Idea To Help Everyone Get ‘Universal Basic Income’

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With the economy keeping everyone on their toes, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has a proposition to level the playing field and finally give those with perpetual financial woes the very thing to turn their fortunes around. An advocate of Universal Basic Income (UBI), where all citizens are guaranteed a cash payment, Altman imagines a future powered by a more transformative Universal Basic Compute (UBC).

Altman deduces in his All-In Podcast that in an AI-driven future, raw computational power will be the key economic driver and might even be more valuable than cash.

UBC envisions every citizen receiving a share of the processing power behind a leading AI model, like OpenAI’s GPT-7. This “slice” could be rented out, sold to others for a profit, donated to worthy causes, or used directly by the individual.

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By granting everyone a sliver of this compute power, UBC could empower individuals to perform complex tasks, generate creative content, or even participate in scientific research.

While the concept is intriguing, there would be significant initial hurdles. Firstly, ensuring equitable access to and training in using such powerful AI tools would be crucial. Additionally, the long-term economic viability of a compute-based system versus a traditional UBI remains to be seen.

Universal Basic Compute is a thought-provoking notion that highlights the potential social and economic disruptions of advanced AI. While its feasibility is uncertain, it compels us to consider the evolving nature of work and value in a growingly automated world.

[via Business Insider and Cointelegraph, images via various sources]