Interesting that UBI is now such a mainstream topic, and this trend will only grow from now on.
Despite what Mr. Sacks might say, the day is still coming when robots & AI will be able to do most work, and be so cheap as employees, humans won’t be able to compete against them in a free market economy.
What won’t change either is that our existing financial order - stocks, 410ks, property prices, taxes that pay for a military - is predicated on humans being the ones that earn the money.
Mr Sacks is part of a political force driven by blue-collar discontent with globalization. He might be against UBI, but the day is coming when his base may be clamoring for it.
Trump’s AI czar says UBI-style cash payments are ‘not going to happen’
There are ways around that so they’re are no cash transfers. Let’s say we give evey citizen emissions rights each month, that allows you to release a certain amount of CO2 (and other stuff). We’ve got AI and automation for measuring, accounting and detecting cheating. If you’re rich and want to fly that private jet, buy emission rights for it, from people that have some unused.
From there on it’s just the market taking over. Live frugal and clean means you got yourself an income. Love to travel to the other side of the planet every weekend? Pay up. And it keeps pollution in check.