The CEO of OpenAI, Sam Altman, has financed the largest basic income study ever conducted in the U.S. through his nonprofit organization, OpenResearch. This initiative involved providing unconditional cash payments over a period of three years to individuals living below the poverty line.
Participants in the study included approximately 3,000 individuals 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 per month, while the remainder, serving as a control group, were given $50.
The findings indicated that those receiving the larger payments had greater flexibility in job searching and were more likely to pursue positions aligned with their goals and values. “Cash can increase people’s agency to make employment decisions that align with their individual circumstances, goals, and values,” the study’s authors noted. Recipients reported being more selective in their job searches.
One participant expressed, “Thanks to the cash transfer and being able to save, I can afford to be picky,” emphasizing that they no longer felt pressured to accept any job for immediate income. Another recipient mentioned that the financial support allowed them to enter a lower-paid entry-level position in a desired field, leading to a six-figure salary within two years, stating, “Without the cash transfers, I wouldn’t have been able to take that pay cut.”
The study revealed no significant differences in employment rates between those receiving higher payments and the control group. Recipients primarily increased spending on basic necessities, with food, housing, and transportation being the largest expenditures. The funds were also used to address health needs, including dental work and treatment for addiction. While the initial cash payments reduced stress, many health benefits diminished after two years.
Sam Altman has been a strong advocate for universal basic income, especially as artificial intelligence transforms the job market and eliminates certain roles.
An earlier version of this article incorrectly identified the organization behind the study; it was Sam Altman’s nonprofit OpenResearch, not OpenAI.