Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI, has backed the largest basic income study in the United States to date through his nonprofit organization, OpenResearch. This study aimed to provide unconditional cash payments to individuals living below the poverty line for a three-year period.
Approximately 3,000 participants aged 21 to 40 from Texas and Illinois, all earning less than $30,000 annually, were involved in the study. One-third of these participants received $1,000 per month (the treatment group), while the remaining participants (the control group) received only $50.
The findings indicated that those receiving the higher payments had greater flexibility in pursuing jobs that matched their personal preferences. According to the authors, “Cash can increase people’s agency to make employment decisions that align with their individual circumstances, goals, and values. Recipients were more likely to be searching for a job, but they were more selective.”
One study participant shared, “Because of the [cash transfer] and being able to build up my savings, I’m in a position for once to be picky,” adding that they were no longer compelled to accept undesirable jobs simply for immediate income. Another recipient noted that the cash transfers allowed them to take a lower-paying entry-level job in a desired field, which eventually led to a six-figure salary within two years. They acknowledged that without the cash assistance, taking such a pay cut would not have been feasible.
The research revealed no significant differences in employment rates between the cash recipients and the control group. The recipients primarily increased their spending on essential needs, including food, housing, and transportation. The funds also supported health-related expenses, such as braces and addiction treatment. Although the cash payments initially reduced stress levels, the health benefits appeared to diminish over a two-year period.
Sam Altman has been an advocate for universal basic income as a response to the changing job landscape influenced by advancements in artificial intelligence.
Correction: An earlier version of this story mistakenly attributed the study’s conduct to OpenAI instead of Sam Altman’s nonprofit, OpenResearch.