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 provided unconditional cash payments to individuals living below the poverty line over a three-year period.
The study involved approximately 3,000 participants, aged 21 to 40, from Texas and Illinois, all earning less than $30,000 annually. One-third of these individuals received $1,000 per month, referred to as recipients, while the remaining participants, known as the control group, were given only $50.
Findings from the research indicated that those receiving the larger payments enjoyed greater flexibility in seeking more desirable job opportunities. The authors of the study noted that access to cash can empower individuals to make employment choices that better fit their personal goals and values. Recipients were found to be more actively searching for jobs but were also more selective in their choices.
One participant shared, “Thanks to the cash transfer and the ability to save, I finally feel in a position to be particular about my job choices.” They expressed gratitude for not needing to settle for a low-quality job out of sheer necessity, allowing them to look for the right match.
Another participant recounted how the financial support enabled them to accept a lower-paying entry-level job in their desired field, leading to a six-figure salary within two years. They remarked, “Without the cash transfers, I wouldn’t have been able to take that pay cut.”
The study reported no significant difference in overall employment rates between those receiving higher payments and the control group. The recipients primarily increased their spending on essential needs, including food, housing, and transportation. The payments additionally facilitated health expenses, such as dental braces and treatment for alcoholism. Initial reductions in stress due to the payments diminished over time, with many health benefits fading after two years.
Altman has championed the concept of universal basic income, especially as artificial intelligence alters the job market and displaces certain positions.
Additionally, a correction has been issued regarding the organization behind the study: it was conducted by Sam Altman’s nonprofit OpenResearch, not OpenAI.