Part 4/10:
What Is a Robot Tax?
Shapiro proposes a comprehensive robot tax—a system that, unlike Universal Basic Income (UBI), isn’t an entitlement but a self-funded mechanism tied directly to the economic impact of automation. Essentially, it would be a tax designed to capture a portion of the gains generated by AI and automation and funnel them back into society through redistribution.
This tax would incentivize companies to accelerate automation and AI adoption, as they would receive benefits or credits for increasing productivity through machine labor. Simultaneously, revenues collected could support social programs, provide stipends, or fund public goods, helping to cushion workers displaced by automation.