CNN had an interview with Andrew Yang about universal basic income in the wake of layoffs from artificial intelligence (AI). Andrew Yang talks about the Freedom Dividend with a monthly check and requires no testing. He is optimistic that people will use that money to spend and build businesses. He also said that he declared that we will be heading toward a job market in the next ten years with increased unemployment. Per CNN, Dr. Yampolsky stated that it might be closer to 99 percent unemployment.

Currently, the United States stands at 4.1% unemployment rate, but new graduates are having a hard time finding new jobs — as companies are laying off people due to restructuring to boost profits and satisfy shareholders as opposed to increasing sales numbers. Inflation rate holds currently at 2.92%, showing some signs of easing off, but food and utility inflation rate holds at 3% with record costs in households. Some of these are due to external factors, and some of it is in due to pressure to evolve from the advent and growth of commercial artificial intelligence (AI).

AI is being introduced now as a consumer item in most electronics and software from Apple to Microsoft Edge. Even artificial intelligence is being implanted in some lower-grade laptops like the one Fringe Fiction is typing on to boost performance. And as commercial-grade AI is being introduced into households, it may be forcing some people out of jobs, particularly those in sales, legal and other spheres. It has impacted the technology sector the most as close to 150,000 layoffs have already occurred. And with that, Fringe Fiction does offer an optimistic turn. Software developers and engineers will be much needed in the future, but perhaps not in the roles they expect it to be. It won’t be standard as portrayed in Terminator: Genisys. Think Doctor Who’s three-parter, Utopia, The Sound of Drums and The Last of the Timelords. Programmers will be needed to stop humanity’s hubris.

Until we get to that point, we have to deal with our current reality. Tech layoffs have already occurred and will continue to do so over the next few years. Universal basic income is a good idea in terms of dealing with the financial impacts, but it could severely limit government as it could potentially increase the debt of the United States by multiple folds. It’s a bandage at best. United States should take the opportunity to upskill those that can be upskilled and drive some into the trades should they be inclined. Meanwhile, even with these adjustments, China would and could seize the moment again. What do you think?

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