Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI, has financed the largest basic income study in the United States to date through his nonprofit organization, OpenResearch. The initiative aimed to provide unconditional cash payments to individuals living below the poverty line for a duration of three years.
The study involved around 3,000 participants aged 21 to 40 from Texas and Illinois, each earning less than $30,000 annually. One-third of these participants received $1,000 per month, while the remaining participants, serving as a control group, received $50.
According to the study’s findings, those receiving the larger monthly payments experienced greater flexibility in pursuing desired job opportunities. The authors noted, “Cash can increase people’s agency to make employment decisions that align with their individual circumstances, goals, and values.” Recipients were more actively looking for work but were also more selective in their job searches.
One study participant expressed gratitude for the cash transfers, saying it allowed them to be discerning about job choices and not settle for unsatisfactory positions purely out of financial necessity. Another recipient shared that the ability to take a lower-paying entry-level job in their desired field ultimately led to a significant salary increase within two years, highlighting that without the cash support, this move would have been impossible.
While the study reported no significant difference in overall employment levels between the two groups, it revealed that recipients primarily increased their spending on essential needs such as food, housing, and transportation. The cash support also contributed to addressing health-related expenses, including dental braces and treatment for substances. Although the initial financial relief reduced stress levels, many of the health benefits observed seemed to diminish after two years.
Altman has advocated for universal basic income as a means to mitigate the impacts of artificial intelligence on the labor market by potentially displacing jobs.
This article previously inaccurately attributed the study to OpenAI; it was, in fact, conducted by Altman’s nonprofit, OpenResearch.