Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI and chair of Tools for Humanity, envisions a future where the advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) could lead to a significant restructuring of socioeconomics. In a recent interview on the All-In podcast, Altman proposed a unique perspective on universal basic income (UBI) by treating “compute” as a valuable resource that could replace monetary income.
During the interview, Altman delved into the potential dangers of AI, including the possibility of AI-induced human extinction and widespread unemployment. He acknowledged that AI models could pose such threats in the future. To address this, Altman suggested the establishment of a global oversight board to regulate large AI projects, allowing startups to operate more freely without restrictive laws.
Altman reassured the All-In team that OpenAI’s current state-of-the-art production model, GPT-4, does not pose a significant threat to human lives. However, he remains an advocate for UBI, emphasizing the importance of providing a safety net for individuals. In addition to his role at OpenAI, Altman leads Tools for Humanity, a company that develops the Worldcoin cryptocurrency and identity verification platform. Worldcoin is distributed to individuals who verify their humanity and receive a monthly token stipend.
Altman criticized existing government poverty assistance programs as largely ineffective and called for a simpler and more respectful approach to UBI. He acknowledged that money alone cannot solve all problems or guarantee happiness but suggested that it could address some issues and provide individuals with a better opportunity to help themselves.
Altman’s support for UBI stems from his realization, along with his colleagues in 2016, of the profound impact that AI could have on society. Through studies and research, they discovered the potential promise of UBI. Now, Altman believes that the UBI paradigm itself is ripe for transformation.
In related news, there are reports that Apple is finalizing a deal with OpenAI to integrate the ChatGPT AI model into iPhones.