Scott Santens
Editor of Basic Income Today
EDITOR’S PICKS
Amazon makes ‘fundamental leap forward in robotics’ with device having sense of touch
Vulcan device ‘capable of grabbing three-quarters of items in warehouses’ fuels fears of mass job losses See original post here. Amazon said it has made a “fundamental leap forward in robotics” after developing a robot with a sense of touch that will be capable of grabbing about three-quarters of the items in its vast warehouses. Vulcan – which launches at the US firm’s “Delivering the Future” event in Dortmund, Germany, on Wednesday and is to be deployed around the world in the next few years – is designed to help humans sort items for storage and then prepare them for delivery as the latest in a suite of robots which have an ever-growing role in the online retailer’s extensive operation. Aaron Parness, Amazon’s director of robotics, described Vulcan as a “fundamental leap forward in robotics.
Latest Articles
State lawmakers launch group to spur ‘guaranteed income’ cash to residents
More than 20 lawmakers want to see states play a larger role in the programs meant to fight poverty.
Trump’s cuts halt UCSF study that gave Black young adults guaranteed income
By Anna Bauman, Jack Lee See original post here. Tremon Chandler, a 25-year-old from Ohio, moved to San Francisco four years
Bill restricting North Carolina cities and counties from adopting guaranteed income programs advances.
Original article here. By: Greg Childress A bill barring North Carolina cities and counties from adopting or enforcing guaranteed income
Income Inequality
I Worked Hard My Entire Life — Now I’m 70 And Broke. Something Has To Change In This Country.
“I don’t own a house. My IRA is long gone. The only thing my kids are likely to inherit right now is a pretty good object lesson in what not to do financially.”
Most Americans can’t afford life anymore — and they just don’t matter to the economy like they once did
Burns tries to stretch every dollar to maximize their quality of life on the family’s limited income.
Top 1 Percent Has Sapped $79T in Wealth From Bottom 90 Percent Since 1975
In 2023 alone, $3.9 trillion was sapped from the bottom 90 percent— enough to give every worker a $32,000 raise.
Pilots & Experiments
Largest-scale cash transfer reentry program to date successfully reduced recidivism
An Impact Study of the Returning Citizens Stimulus Program
Albuquerque City Council agrees to use weed tax revenue for basic income pilot
Council agrees to use weed tax revenue basic income pilot program
N.Y.C. Mayor Candidate Pitches Largest Guaranteed Income Program in U.S.
Adrienne Adams, the New York City Council speaker who is running for mayor, released a plan to provide guaranteed income for thousands of homeless families.
The Social Debate
Bill banning Harris County’s basic income program passes Texas Senate
Uplift Harris was intended to provide direct financial assistance to up to 1,500 families living at 200% below the poverty line, according to an overview document published by Precinct 1.
Trump’s New Plan for Acquiring Greenland Is UBI for Its Residents—on Americans’ Dime
The White House has a plan that sounds strikingly similar to a universal basic income scheme, or UBI.
Universal Basic Income Could Slash UK Benefit Costs and Boost Economy, Studies Show
Advocates argue that a well-designed UBI would streamline welfare payments, lift millions out of poverty, and increase financial security for workers—ultimately benefiting the broader economy.
Success Stories
Can $1,000 a month help more students land nursing careers? An L.A. pilot effort says yes
Community colleges play a critical role in addressing California’s persistent demand for healthcare workers, preparing students to become the state’s next generation of nurses, medical assistants and physical therapy aides.
‘It comforted me:’ Oakland’s guaranteed basic income program ends. Here’s who it helped
Oakland’s pilot guaranteed income program — one of the largest in the country — allowed participants to stay housed and get employment, according to a study of the initiative released Tuesday.
Madison program gave away cash. People worked even more.
When Vanessa Munsey applied for the state’s first guaranteed income program almost three years ago, she was living out of her car with her infant and three-year-old son.
The Basics of UBI
The history of universal basic income: The concept of UBI has been debated for centuries
Figures like Martin Luther King Jr. and Richard Nixon supported versions of UBI.
The Freedom From Want and Basic Income
Human beings are not game pieces. We are not theoretical abstractions. We are animals. And like all animals we have needs that must be met or we will suffer greatly and die.
Universal basic income: ‘The power to say no and the freedom to say yes’
Scott Santens is the founder and CEO of the U.S.-based Income to Support All (ITSA) Foundation, and has been researching and advocating for Universal Basic Income (UBI) since 2013.
Workforce Automation
Bill Gates: Within 10 years, AI will replace many doctors and teachers—humans won’t be needed ‘for most things’
At the moment, expertise remains “rare,” Gates explained, pointing to human specialists we still rely on in many fields, including “a great doctor” or “a great teacher.”
Tennessee General Assembly passes Guaranteed Basic Income Act for eligible residents
This legislation seeks to address economic disparities and the growing concerns surrounding job displacement due to automation.
OpenAI declares AI race “over” if training on copyrighted works isn’t fair use
By Ashley Belanger See original post here. OpenAI is hoping that Donald Trump’s AI Action Plan, due out this