A multi-year study on Universal Basic Income (UBI) sponsored by OpenAI founder and CEO Sam Altman has published its findings. The study provided a monthly cash allowance of $1,000 to thousands of Americans and revealed that the funds were predominantly used to cover basic necessities while also significantly boosting charitable giving.
Study Overview and Spending Patterns
Conducted by Openresearch, an investigative lab on whose board Sam Altman sits, the first phase enrolled 3,000 participants in Texas and Illinois, distributing a total of $45 million. Recipients spent an average of $310 more per month than a control group, with the extra spending concentrated in three key categories: food and beverages, transportation, and rent. This pattern was especially pronounced among lower-income beneficiaries.
Philanthropic Impact Rises 22%
The study also found a remarkable increase in altruistic behavior. UBI recipients increased spending on helping others — including gifts, loans, charity, and alimony — by 22% compared to the control group. Researchers noted a ripple effect: the cash transfers lightened the burden on recipients who had previously been supporting relatives in financial difficulty, amplifying the social benefit of UBI.
Altman’s Vision for UBI in the AI Era
Altman has long warned that artificial intelligence could upend the global economic order and alter the “social contract.” While he endorses traditional cash-based UBI experiments, in May he proposed a novel variant called “universal basic compute” — distributing computational resources that recipients could use or sell. This concept offers a forward-looking framework for income support in an AI-driven world.
The Openresearch study adds concrete evidence to the UBI debate, showing that unconditional cash transfers not only reduce poverty but also foster community support. As AI reshapes job markets, mechanisms like UBI may become vital components of future social safety nets.