The non-profit organization AI Commons Project, in collaboration with What We Will, has launched the first experimental 'AI Dividend' basic income program. Designed to provide financial assistance and career transition support to workers displaced by generative AI, the initiative has now entered its disbursement phase. The first group of recipients will receive $1,000 monthly for one year. Initially recruiting 25 to 50 participants with a total budget of approximately $300,000, the program aims to expand to $3 million in the future. Program organizers note that AI's impact has caused income declines across multiple industries, so in addition to financial aid, the program offers retraining and career counseling services. Currently, funding is primarily borne by non-profit institutions, with the organizing team actively promoting cost-sharing among AI companies. This experiment represents a practical application of the 'Universal Basic Income' concept, marking the AI industry's shift toward socially responsible governance. Its subsequent outcomes will provide crucial references for global efforts to address AI-induced unemployment.
