Presidential Candidate Andrew Yang: AI Needs Universal Basic Income

Today on the Giant Ideas podcast we are joined by Andrew Yang.

When Andrew Yang, a political outsider, ran for US President in 2020 his campaign hinged on a warning: he predicted that a huge number of jobs would be lost by automation. His solution was a monthly universal basic income (UBI) of $1,000, designed to offset the job losses.

Now, six years later, it appears Yang might have been onto something. 

Dario Amodei, CEO of AI Giant Anthropic, has predicted that half of entry level white collar jobs will be eliminated in the next 3-5 years - spiking US unemployment to over 10%.

So, is UBI still the answer? Would UBI create a dystopian world of state-supported benefits, and loss of meaning? Or could UBI lead to more purpose, hope and a sense of buy-in to the American economy?

Listen to find out more about UBI, why 'elite oversupply' causes social unrest, why people are severely underestimating how disruptive AI will be compared to past industrial revolutions, and why he thinks we should redesign the economy around human flourishing, not just GDP...

Andrew is also the founder of a nonprofit called Humanity Forward, and he co-founded the Forward Party, a new political party in America aiming to bridge partisan divides. Today his focus is on his new company - launched in late 2025. With Noble Mobile, aiming to cut out the middle man and make mobile data cheaper for Americans.

Building a purpose driven company? Read more about Giant Ventures at www.Giant.vc.

Music credits: Bubble King written and produced by Cameron McLain and Stevan Cablayan aka Vector_XING.

Please note: The content of this podcast is for informational and entertainment purposes only. It should not be considered financial, legal, or investment advice. Always consult a licensed professional before making any investment decisions.