Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI, has financed the largest basic income study in the United States. His nonprofit organization, OpenResearch, collaborated with researchers to provide unconditional cash payments to individuals living below the poverty line for a duration of three years.
The study involved approximately 3,000 participants aged 21 to 40 from Texas and Illinois, all earning less than $30,000 annually. A third of these individuals received $1,000 monthly, while the control group received only $50.
The results indicated that those who received the higher payments had increased flexibility in their job searches, allowing them to pursue positions that better matched their individual aspirations. The authors of the study noted that cash payments enhanced participants’ ability to make employment choices that align with their personal goals and values. Recipients demonstrated a greater tendency to seek jobs, albeit with increased selectivity.
One participant expressed, “Thanks to the cash transfer and the ability to save, I can finally be choosy with my job options,” emphasizing the ability to avoid low-quality job offers. Another recipient mentioned that the cash transfers enabled them to accept a lower-paying entry-level job in their desired field, which ultimately led to a six-figure salary within two years—a prospect they believed would have been unattainable without the financial support.
The study revealed minimal differences in overall employment rates between those receiving higher payments and the control group. However, recipients tended to allocate their funds toward essential living expenses, including food, housing, and transportation. The payments also contributed towards health-related costs, such as orthodontic care and treatment for addiction. While there was evidence of reduced stress for recipients initially, many health benefits diminished after two years.
Sam Altman has been an advocate for universal basic income as the advancements in artificial intelligence continue to transform the labor market and displace certain job sectors.
An earlier version of this article incorrectly identified the organization that conducted the study; it was Sam Altman’s nonprofit OpenResearch, not OpenAI.