Patel: UBI is the only viable redistribution model if AGI eliminates wages
Dwarkesh Patel · Dwarkesh Patel and Noah Smith on AGI and the Economy · Aug 4, 2025 · at 39:51
Dwarkesh Patel (host of the Dwarkesh Podcast) argues that direct UBI is preferable to ad-hoc litigation or regulatory interventions if AI depresses human labor value below subsistence levels.
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“If all human wages go to zero or go below subsistence, then the only way to deal with that is through some kind of UBI rather than, you know, if you happen to sue open AI, you get a trillion dollar settlement. Otherwise you're kind of screwed.”
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