NY lawmaker proposes AI dividend to offset job losses

New York State Assemblymember Alex Bores posted on X over the weekend outlining an “AI Dividend” program that would pay direct dividends to Americans if artificial intelligence meaningfully displaces workers. Bores tied the proposal to measurable triggers that would activate payments once displacement thresholds are met.

The plan lists three main funding sources: a tax on the use of AI technologies, taking equity stakes in leading AI companies and changing tax rules to rebalance how labor and capital are treated. Bores described the measures as a way to share productivity gains with the public while keeping incentives for innovation.

Revenue from the proposal would be split. Part would go to immediate dividend payments to eligible Americans. Additional funds would be reserved for workforce transition programs, retraining and education, and for building oversight and safety infrastructure to monitor AI deployment and its effects on the labor market.

The program includes trigger conditions tied to measurable worker displacement; if those conditions are met, dividend payments would begin. Until a trigger is reached, the plan would use funds to finance preparedness efforts such as retraining programs and increased regulatory capacity.

Bores is promoting the policy as part of his campaign for a seat in Congress.

Several large technology companies, including Amazon, Meta, Intel and Microsoft, have reduced headcounts in recent periods, with some executives pointing to efficiency gains related to AI among the factors behind those changes. Crypto.com laid off about 12% of its staff to scale operations with artificial intelligence

A Goldman Sachs analysis estimated roughly 16,000 jobs were lost per month over the past year linked to AI adoption. A Morgan Stanley report dated April 14 described the impact on employment so far as modest and noted that historical patterns of technological change have both displaced and created roles, while acknowledging AI could produce different results.

The proposal raises policy and technical questions, including how to define and measure AI use for taxation, how to value equity stakes in private companies, how quickly revenue could be deployed for payments or retraining, and what federal legislation or regulatory design would be required. Progress on implementation could depend in part on the outcome of Bores’s congressional campaign.

Lawmakers and analysts have proposed a range of policy options to address structural changes in the labor market, including taxes on automation, public equity holdings in tech firms and expanded workforce programs. The AI Dividend offers a specific combination of direct payments, targeted workforce investment and proposed funding mechanisms linked to AI’s economic impact.