According to a recent report by Business Insider, former OpenAI researcher Miles Brundage has made a bold prediction: given the rapid development of AI technology, a "$10,000 monthly basic income" (approximately 71,744 RMB) could become possible in the future. This view has quickly sparked widespread discussion, offering a new perspective on the current debate about AI and economic transformation.
Brundage recently posted on the social platform X, calling on policymakers to be more forward-thinking. He specifically suggested experimenting with a more generous universal basic income (UBI), significantly increasing the amount from the current $1,000 per month to $10,000 to observe the actual effects. In his view, AI will fundamentally reshape the economic structure, making a high basic income feasible in the coming years. "$1,000 per month is realistic under current policy frameworks, but as AI drives economic growth, $10,000 per month could become a viable option in a few years," he wrote.
This prediction is not unfounded. The rapid development of AI is already threatening many entry-level jobs, causing job market instability. Notably, several tech leaders, including Elon Musk, have publicly supported basic income plans. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has even taken a hands-on approach, funding a large-scale, three-year basic income research project that would provide $1,000 per month.
As OpenAI's former senior policy advisor and head of its AGI preparation team, Brundage explicitly stated in a blog post upon his departure in 2024 that the impact of AI on the job market was his primary concern. "In the short term, I worry that AI will deprive urgently needed workers of their jobs; but in the long term, humanity will ultimately be freed from the constraints of work for survival, which is the core purpose of developing AI and AGI," he explained.
However, Brundage also clearly pointed out that existing social systems are far from ready for this major shift. He emphasized: "We are not prepared, politically, culturally, or otherwise. This issue must be at the core of policy discussions." He warned that if society blindly enters a "post-work era," it could lead to civilizational stagnation, much like the scenario depicted in the movie "Wall-E." Therefore, he called on all sectors of society to engage in deeper thinking and debate to prepare for the coming economic paradigm shift.
