A New York state assemblymember and congressional candidate has unveiled a proposal for an artificial intelligence dividend to help U.S. citizens prepare for potential job losses linked to advancing AI technology.
In an X post, New York lawmaker Alex Bores laid out a plan to ready the country and its workforce for the “potential large-scale displacement of human labor by artificial intelligence.” He called the measure the “AI Dividend” — direct payments to Americans funded by tax reform that would also incentivize hiring humans instead of AI.
The proposal would finance the dividend through measures including a tax on AI use, equity stakes in leading AI companies, and changes to how labor and capital are taxed. Bores is promoting the policy as part of his congressional campaign, and its implementation would depend in part on his political success.
Beyond individual payments, the plan allocates funds for workforce transition programs, training and education, and the creation of oversight and safety infrastructure. The plan states: “At its core, the AI Dividend is simple: if AI dramatically increases productivity and concentrates wealth, the American people have a stake in those gains.” It adds, “The AI Dividend is a direct payment program that kicks in when and if AI meaningfully displaces American workers. It is not a punishment for innovation — it is an insurance policy.”
Concerns about AI-driven unemployment have been growing. A recent Goldman Sachs report estimated AI adoption has coincided with about 16,000 job losses per month over the past year. Major U.S. tech firms such as Amazon, Meta, Intel and Microsoft have announced or enacted significant layoffs, citing efficiencies tied to AI.
At the same time, global investment bank Morgan Stanley published a report on April 14 noting that the labor impact of AI has been “modest so far.” The bank argued historical precedent shows new technologies can expand employment over time even as they displace some roles, while acknowledging AI could break from that pattern.
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