NY Lawmaker Proposes AI Dividend Tax to Fund Direct Payments to Americans

New York State Assemblyman Alex Bores has proposed taxing artificial intelligence companies to fund direct payments to American workers displaced by automation. The plan, announced April 20, would create an “AI Dividend” program triggered when AI meaningfully displaces human labor.

“If AI dramatically increases productivity and concentrates wealth, the American people have a stake in those gains,” Bores stated in the proposal. The lawmaker, currently running for Congress, framed the initiative as “an insurance policy” rather than a penalty on innovation.

Funding Mechanisms and Distribution

The proposed program would draw revenue from three primary sources: a direct tax on AI usage, equity stakes in leading AI companies, and reformed tax treatment of labor versus capital. Funds would flow into two channels—direct citizen payments and investments in workforce retraining, education, and AI safety oversight.

Bores’ timing aligns with mounting evidence of AI-driven job losses. A recent Goldman Sachs report cited approximately 16,000 monthly job losses attributable to AI adoption over the past year. Major tech firms including Amazon, Meta, Intel, and Microsoft have already executed or announced significant layoffs linked to AI-driven efficiencies.

Conflicting Data on Labor Impact

Not everyone agrees on the severity of the threat. Morgan Stanley published research on April 14 suggesting AI’s labor market impact has been “modest so far,” noting limited evidence of widespread displacement. The firm pointed to historical precedent where technological waves ultimately expanded employment even while eliminating certain roles.

Still, Morgan Stanley acknowledged AI could break this pattern. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has reportedly discussed building AI agents capable of running significant company operations—a development that could accelerate displacement timelines.

Political Reality Check

The proposal’s viability hinges heavily on Bores’ congressional campaign success. As a state-level initiative from a candidate rather than sitting federal legislator, the AI Dividend faces a steep path to implementation. Similar universal basic income-style proposals have historically struggled to gain traction in Congress.

The concept echoes ideas floated by tech leaders themselves. Elon Musk has previously suggested AI could eventually render most human employment obsolete, necessitating some form of universal high basic income.

Whether Bores’ specific mechanism gains momentum or not, the proposal signals growing political appetite for addressing AI’s economic disruption through direct redistribution. For investors in AI-adjacent sectors—including crypto projects building decentralized AI infrastructure—regulatory frameworks around AI taxation represent an emerging variable worth monitoring.

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