July 22nd, 2024

Sam Altman's basic-income study is out. Here's what it found

Sam Altman's basic-income study by OpenAI provided $1,000/month to low-income participants for 3 years. Funds were used for essentials, reducing initial stress but not addressing complex challenges. Recipients showed increased agency but no direct health improvements. Employment rates declined over time.

Read original articleLink Icon
Sam Altman's basic-income study is out. Here's what it found

Sam Altman's basic-income study, conducted by OpenAI, provided low-income participants with $1,000 a month for three years. The study revealed that recipients primarily allocated the extra funds towards essential needs like rent, food, and transportation. While recipients experienced reduced financial stress initially, this effect diminished over time. The study emphasized that cash alone cannot address complex challenges like chronic health conditions or high housing costs. Recipients exhibited increased agency in decision-making, such as exploring new business ventures or relocating. The study found no direct evidence of improved healthcare access or enhanced physical and mental health among recipients. Despite recipients showing higher individual savings and increased spending on others, the study noted a decline in employment rates in the second and third years compared to the control group. Overall, the study highlighted the potential benefits and limitations of basic-income programs in supporting individuals facing financial hardships.

Link Icon 2 comments
By @dang - 3 months
By @JSDevOps - 3 months
So they did this study. No idea how or when but ok. The study found out that when you give people free money they spend more. These things are great in isolation running in parallel with the current system but they just don’t scale.