Musk Urges Federal ‘Universal High Income’ Checks

Elon Musk called on the federal government to issue “Universal High Income” checks to help workers displaced by artificial intelligence, arguing that higher AI-driven output will prevent inflation and deliver wider access to goods and services. The appeal appeared in recent posts on social media from the founder of X.AI Corp, the company behind the Grok chatbot.

Musk wrote that “Universal HIGH INCOME via checks issued by the Federal government is the best way to deal with unemployment caused by AI.” He added that “AI/robotics will produce goods & services far in excess of the increase in the money supply, so there will not be inflation,” and described a future with broader access to medical care, food, housing and transport.

Musk’s Universal High Income proposal differs from standard universal basic income plans by calling for larger federal checks tied specifically to labor displacement from automation. He framed the payments as a direct federal response to reduce hardship as jobs change or disappear due to AI and robotics.

Other technology leaders have urged different approaches. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has warned about machine substitution and proposed creating a fund financed by AI companies to support displaced workers. Anthropic co-founder Dario Amodei has raised concerns about broad automation effects and called for government action to protect social welfare.

The Alliance for Secure AI estimates more than 100,000 Americans have already been displaced by changes tied to AI, a figure that has intensified policy discussions. Experts and advocates have proposed a range of responses, including taxes on AI firms, public investment in worker retraining, pilot guaranteed-income programs and corporate funds to support transitions.

Supporters of federal direct payments say rapid implementation of large checks could stabilize incomes as work shifts. Critics question the fiscal cost and possible long-term effects on labor incentives and participation. Lawmakers and agencies face choices about testing different models for income support, taxation and regulation as evidence on displacement and productivity accumulates.

Musk has long argued that automation can raise productivity and expand access to necessities. His recent posts reiterate that position while proposing a federal cash program to offset job losses tied to AI-driven automation.