Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, has sponsored the largest basic income study in the United States to date through his nonprofit organization, OpenResearch. The three-year study provided unconditional cash payments to individuals living below the poverty line.
Involving around 3,000 participants aged 21 to 40 from Texas and Illinois, the study targeted individuals earning less than $30,000 annually. One-third of the participants received $1,000 per month, while the remaining participants, serving as the control group, received $50.
The findings indicated that those who received the larger payments had greater freedom to seek employment that suited their preferences. The study’s authors 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.”
One participant remarked that the cash transfers allowed them to save money and become choosy about job opportunities, stating, “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 shared that they were able to accept a lower-paid entry-level job in their desired field, eventually achieving a six-figure salary within two years, attributing their success to the cash support.
While the study reported no significant difference in employment levels between the two groups, it highlighted that recipients increased their spending primarily on essential needs such as food, housing, and transportation. The payments also enabled recipients to address health-related expenses, including braces and treatment for alcoholism. Although the initial cash support reduced stress for recipients, many of these health benefits diminished after two years.
Altman has been an advocate for universal basic income, especially as artificial intelligence continues to transform the job market and potentially displace various roles.
Correction: An earlier version of this article incorrectly identified the organization conducting the study as OpenAI; it was actually Sam Altman’s nonprofit OpenResearch.