Artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming the global labor market, causing millions of job losses. In 2025, 75 million jobs were lost worldwide, and AI could replace nearly 40% of U.S. jobs by 2030. Unlike the Industrial Revolution, AI threatens both manual and cognitive work, disproportionately affecting young and inexperienced workers. Traditional social protections may be insufficient, making universal basic income (UBI) increasingly necessary. Proposals like Andrew Yang’s $1,000 monthly Freedom Dividend aim to stabilize consumption, reduce inequality, and redistribute wealth generated by automation. While challenges remain, UBI offers a structural solution to ensure economic stability and social cohesion in an AI-driven era.
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