OpenAI has called on governments to rethink the foundations of the economy, warning that artificial intelligence (AI) could soon surpass human intelligence and drastically change how people work, live, and pay taxes. The company outlined its initial policy ideas on Monday, aimed at mitigating the economic disruption caused by rapid AI adoption in the United States and worldwide.
One key proposal is the creation of a public wealth fund that would give citizens a direct stake in AI-driven economic growth. According to the policy document, the fund could invest in diversified, long-term assets, including AI companies and broader firms adopting AI technologies, with returns distributed to all citizens.
The company also suggested that governments encourage businesses to launch four-day workweek pilot programs without any reduction in pay. This approach aims to balance the productivity gains provided by AI with the well-being of workers. Lawmakers are also urged to modernize tax systems by increasing taxation on corporate income and capital gains instead of labor income, which could be affected by AI-related job losses. The report proposes additional measures, such as taxing companies that replace human labor with automation.
OpenAI recommends that social benefits, including retirement pensions and healthcare, be provided through portable accounts that follow individuals across different jobs, industries, and entrepreneurial ventures. This model would help ensure continuity of support in a labor market increasingly influenced by AI.
These recommendations echo broader discussions among AI leaders about the future of work. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and xAI’s Elon Musk have previously highlighted universal basic income as a potential necessity as traditional employment declines. Other tech leaders, including Nvidia’s Jensen Huang and Zoom’s Eric Yuan, have advocated shorter workweeks to distribute productivity gains from AI more evenly.
Concerns about AI’s long-term impact extend beyond economics. In January, Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei warned that superintelligent AI, capable of outpacing human decision-making, poses “existential danger.” He suggested tighter controls on the export of key technologies, such as semiconductor chips used to train large language models, as one way to manage the risk. Amodei also called for transparency laws requiring AI companies to disclose how they guide their models’ behavior.
OpenAI’s policy document represents an early step in urging governments to address the structural changes AI may bring. The proposals highlight the need to rethink traditional concepts of work, taxation, and social support as the technology continues to advance rapidly.
As AI continues to reshape global economies, policymakers and industry leaders face increasing pressure to develop strategies that protect citizens while fostering innovation and sustainable growth.
