A New York state lawmaker and congressional candidate, Alex Bores, has proposed an “AI dividend” program aimed at cushioning Americans against potential job losses driven by advances in artificial intelligence.
In a post on X on Sunday, Bores outlined a plan to prepare the US for what he described as the “potential large-scale displacement of human labor” caused by AI. His proposal would provide direct payments to citizens, funded through tax reforms designed to encourage companies to hire human workers rather than replace them with automation.
The initiative comes amid rising concern over AI’s impact on employment. A recent report from Goldman Sachs estimates that the adoption of AI has contributed to the loss of roughly 16,000 jobs per month over the past year.
The proposed program would be financed through measures such as a tax on AI usage, equity stakes in major artificial intelligence firms, and broader reforms to how labor and capital are taxed.
Alex Bores is promoting the policy as part of his campaign for a seat in Congress, meaning its chances of advancing could hinge on the outcome of his bid.
Beyond direct payments to Americans, the plan also allocates funding for workforce retraining, education initiatives, and the development of oversight and safety frameworks for AI.
“At its core, the AI Dividend is simple: if AI significantly boosts productivity and concentrates wealth, the American people should share in those gains,” the proposal states.
“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.”
High-profile US tech giants such as Amazon, Meta, Intel and Microsoft have already laid off thousands of workers—or are reportedly planning to—as AI-driven efficiencies reshape their operations.
However, a report released on April 14 by Morgan Stanley found that AI’s impact on the labor market has been “modest so far.”
The firm noted there is still limited evidence of widespread job losses, adding that historically, new technological waves tend to expand overall employment even as they displace certain roles. That said, it cautioned that artificial intelligence could ultimately break from this pattern.
