OpenAI co-founder and CEO Sam Altman has published a comprehensive document outlining a new “AI Deal” aimed at reshaping society in the face of superintelligence — AI systems that can outperform the smartest humans even when aided by AI. Altman argues that as superintelligence surges, society must undergo a fundamental shift to preserve social order and rebalance the economy so citizens can maintain stability even when partially displaced by automation.
Key Pillars of the AI Deal
The proposed deal rests on four main pillars. First, Altman calls for the creation of a public wealth fund in partnership with AI companies. Every citizen would hold a direct stake in this fund, which would invest in tech and AI ventures, allowing the broader population to benefit from productivity gains driven by AI adoption.
Second, Altman advocates for a shift in taxation from labor to corporate profits. As companies replace human workers with AI, payroll taxes that fund Social Security and Medicare could shrink. By taxing corporate earnings instead, the government can protect these essential social safety nets. This idea has also been endorsed by Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei and former presidential candidate Andrew Yang.
Third, to share the productivity dividends of AI, Altman proposes a 32-hour workweek without pay reductions. He also calls for increased contributions to retirement and healthcare funds, arguing that workers should enjoy more leisure time as machines handle a greater share of labor.
Fourth, the document asserts that access to AI should be a basic right, similar to electricity and internet. Every individual should have a baseline level of AI access to avoid social exclusion. In addition, guardrails must be established to cushion the impact of job displacement, providing relief to workers when they need it most.
Addressing Risks of Superintelligence
Altman also expresses concerns about the misuse of superintelligence for cyberattacks and biological threats, including the engineering of new pathogens. He told Axios that he wants to see “the debate of these issues really start to happen with seriousness.” The document calls for robust safety measures and international cooperation to mitigate these risks.
Parallels with Andrew Yang's Proposals
The new AI deal echoes earlier proposals by Andrew Yang, who campaigned in 2020 on a platform of a $1,000 monthly universal basic income (UBI). Yang recently advocated for taxing AI instead of labor, aligning closely with Altman's tax shift suggestion. This convergence indicates growing bipartisan recognition that current social and economic structures are ill-suited for an AI-dominated future.
Altman’s document marks a significant step in the ongoing debate about how to manage the societal transition to superintelligence. It calls for proactive policy changes rather than reactive measures, aiming to ensure that the benefits of AI are widely distributed and its risks are contained.