Part 7/12:
Back in 2020, entrepreneur and former presidential candidate Andrew Yang proposed the “Freedom Dividend”—a universal $1,000 monthly payment to all Americans, with no work requirements or means testing. Yang emphasizes that UBI's purpose is to empower individuals to weather economic transitions, start businesses, and engage more fully in their communities. He argues that such a safety net is vital when automation threatens to leave many without employment.
Yang sees UBI not as a socialist handout but as a way to sustain capitalism by ensuring consumers—people—can participate in the economy. He advocates for funding through taxes on AI firms, suggesting that the immense value generated by AI deserves to benefit the broader society rather than just a handful of corporations.