Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI, has funded the largest basic income study in the United States to date through his nonprofit organization, OpenResearch. The initiative involved providing unconditional cash payments to individuals living below the poverty line for a duration of three years.
The study included around 3,000 participants aged 21 to 40 from Texas and Illinois, all of whom earned less than $30,000 annually. One-third of the participants received $1,000 each month, while the remaining participants, serving as the control group, received $50.
Findings from the study indicated that those who received the larger payments experienced greater flexibility in pursuing job opportunities that aligned with their preferences. 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 how the cash transfers enabled them to prioritize their job choices, stating, “Because of the cash transfer and being able to build up my savings, I’m in a position for once to be picky. I don’t have to take a crappy job just because I need income right now.” Another participant recounted how they accepted a lower-paying entry-level position in their desired field, ultimately leading to a six-figure salary within two years. They remarked, “If I didn’t have the cash transfers, there is no way I could have taken that pay cut.”
The study revealed that there were no significant differences in employment rates between the larger payment recipients and the control group. Recipients primarily increased their spending on essential needs such as food, housing, and transportation. The payments also aided in addressing health-related expenses, including braces and treatment for alcoholism. Although the payments initially lowered stress levels, many of the health benefits diminished after two years.
Sam Altman has been an advocate for universal basic income, particularly as advancements in artificial intelligence reshape the job market and lead to the displacement of certain jobs.
Correction: An earlier version of this article mistakenly identified the organization conducting the study as OpenAI; it was, in fact, the nonprofit OpenResearch founded by Sam Altman.