Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI, has backed the largest basic income study in the U.S. to date through his nonprofit organization, OpenResearch. This study, conducted in collaboration with researchers, aimed to provide unconditional cash payments to individuals living below the poverty line for three years.
The study involved approximately 3,000 participants aged 21 to 40 from Texas and Illinois, all earning under $30,000 annually. One-third of these individuals received $1,000 per month, classified as the recipients, while the control group received only $50.
Findings from the study revealed that those receiving the higher payments had enhanced freedom in their job searches, allowing them to pursue roles more aligned with their interests and aspirations. 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.”
One participant shared, “Thanks to the cash transfer and the ability to build my savings, I’m finally in a position to be choosy,” adding that they no longer felt pressured to accept a subpar job just to secure immediate income. Another individual highlighted how the cash transfers allowed them to take an entry-level position in their desired field, which ultimately led them to earn a six-figure salary within two years. “Without the cash transfers, I could never have accepted that salary cut,” they stated.
The research indicated no significant differences in overall employment levels between participants receiving the larger payments and the control group. Instead, the funds primarily supported basic needs such as food, housing, and transportation and assisted recipients in managing health-related expenses like braces and treatments for alcoholism. Although the payments initially alleviated stress, many of the health benefits diminished after two years.
Sam Altman has been an advocate for universal basic income, especially as artificial intelligence continues to transform the job landscape and displace certain positions.
A correction to the original report clarifies that the study was conducted by Sam Altman’s nonprofit, OpenResearch, not OpenAI.