Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI, has financed the largest basic income study in the United States to date through his nonprofit organization, OpenResearch. This initiative 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, who earned less than $30,000 annually, took part in the study. One-third of these participants received $1,000 per month, while the remaining participants in the control group received just $50.
The findings of the study indicated that those who received the larger payments had increased flexibility and were more willing to seek jobs that aligned with their personal interests. The authors of the study noted, “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.”
In interviews, participants shared their experiences. One participant remarked that the cash transfers allowed them to build their savings, enabling them to be more discerning in their job search. They stated, “I don’t have to take a crappy job just because I need income right now. I have the opportunity to hold out and try and find the right fit.”
Another recipient described how the financial support enabled them to accept a lower-paying entry-level position in a desired field, ultimately leading to a six-figure salary within two years. They expressed that without the cash transfers, taking a pay cut would not have been feasible.
Overall, the study revealed that there were no significant differences in employment levels between those who received the larger payments and the control group. Recipients primarily increased their spending on basic necessities such as food, housing, and transportation. The payments also contributed to covering health-related expenses, including braces and treatment for alcoholism. Though the cash transfers initially reduced stress, many of the associated health benefits diminished after two years.
Sam Altman has been an advocate for universal basic income, emphasizing its potential in a labor economy transformed by artificial intelligence, which may lead to job displacement.
Correction: An earlier version of this report incorrectly identified the organization conducting the study; it was Sam Altman’s nonprofit OpenResearch, not OpenAI.