Why a Social Dividend is Vital for Our Future
The CEO of ChattyMates proposes implementing a social dividend, funded by corporate taxes on automation and AI.
** This is a speculative news article for a social simulation game. **
Op-ed piece written by Sidney Johnson.
As the CEO of ChattyMates, I'm proud of the journey we've taken from our initial mission of making artificial intelligence (AI) more human to our current focus on helping students have a more enriching experience in online education. When we first started, we recognized the potential for AI to revolutionize modern communication.
As we continued to develop our technology and platform, we saw an opportunity to apply it to the world of education. The pandemic accelerated the shift to online learning, but we saw that many students were struggling to stay engaged and motivated in the virtual classroom beyond the pandemic. We knew that our AI-powered platform could help bridge the gap and create a more meaningful learning experience.
Nonetheless, while these intelligent technologies have significantly boosted productivity and efficiency globally, they have also led to widespread job displacement. Many workers are left struggling to make ends meet. It is becoming increasingly clear that we need a new approach to economic security, and I believe that a social dividend, provided through a Universal Basic Income (UBI) program, is the most effective way to ensure that everyone has a fair share of the wealth generated by this new economy.
A social dividend is a payment made to individuals based on the collective gains or profits generated by technology. It could take shape as corporate taxes placed on companies that rely heavily on automation and AI for their operations. These fees could be based on various factors, such as the number of jobs that have been replaced by machines, the level of profits generated by the technology, or the amount of savings generated by using automation and AI instead of human labor.
McKinsey estimates that by 2030, automation could displace up to 30% of the global workforce, leaving millions without a livelihood. While they predict that around 20 million new jobs could be created because of AI developments, this is nowhere near enough to make up for the loss. We are already seeing this paradox at play in 2026, with the loss of human workforce and concentration of wealth among the few who own AI-powered companies. A social dividend could provide a safety net for workers during the transition, giving them the financial means to support themselves and their families. This safety net would also give workers the freedom to pursue new opportunities, participate in re-skilling programs, and take risks they might otherwise avoid.
One proposal for implementing such taxes is to use a sliding scale, with higher fees imposed on companies that have a larger percentage of their workforce displaced by automation and AI. Another possibility is to use a flat tax on all companies that implement these technologies, with the revenue generated used to fund the social dividend.
By implementing one of these approaches, we can ensure that the benefits of technological progress are shared by all members of society, not just the owners of capital. This would help to address the concerns that technological advancements would only benefit the wealthy and those who own the capital.
At ChattyMates, an AI-forward company, we recognize that we have a responsibility to contribute to this effort. That is why we are committed to supporting a social dividend through a corporate tax on automation and AI. This tax would help fund the social dividend while also encouraging companies to consider the social impact of their technological innovations.
Implementing a social dividend is not without its challenges. However, the world is changing rapidly, and we need to be bold in our thinking and willing to embrace new solutions. A social dividend is not just a way to address the challenges of the future but also a way to create a more equitable and just society. It is a concept that acknowledges the wealth generated by this new AI-forward economy is a shared resource, and emphasizes the importance of preventing its concentration in the hands of a few individuals.
📢 Sound-Off: What would life look like with a social dividend?
Imagine that you are a worker who has been displaced by automation and AI in the year 2026-2027. How might a social dividend funded by corporate taxes in your country help you during the transition? What challenges might you face?
How might a social dividend impact the economy as a whole in the future? Would it lead to greater innovation and productivity, or could it lead to unintended consequences like a reduction in the overall number of jobs?
In a future with a social dividend, how might different groups of people be impacted differently? Would some industries or regions be more heavily affected by job displacement, and how might a social dividend address those disparities?
Comment below with your responses, or join our LIVE discussions on Discord.
Please note: Story, visual, and audio materials were created with the support of AI tools. ChattyMates is a fictional company. Sidney Johnson is a fictional person.
Social dividends is gaining traction among political conservatives who used to scream "socialism" when they hear the words "universal income" despite support from three of the greatest beneficiaries of capitalism - Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg and Richard Branson. Andrew Yang made it sound more capitalistic by rebranding it "freedom dividends" but this did not fly because AI and robots were not as ubiquitous back then and politicians just didn't have the foresight. Now that these technologies are displacing a lot of workers, it's time to at least give social dividends a chance.