Elizabeth Rhodes: Sam Altman’s UBI Experiment Insights
Explore the complex role of cash transfers, as a Sam Altman-backed UBI experiment reveals fascinating insights. Leading the OpenResearch project, elizabeth Rhodes’s study in Illinois adn Texas demonstrates cash’s impact on recipients’ goal-setting and spending behaviors.The research highlights how recipients sought more engaging employment, underscoring that while UBI shows promise, it’s not a standalone solution. News Directory 3 brings you an exclusive look at these critical findings. Discover what’s next as we break down the future of universal basic income.
Sam Altman-Backed UBI Study Shows Complex Role of cash Transfers
Updated June 17, 2025
A Universal Basic Income (UBI) experiment, financially supported by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, suggests that while direct cash transfers can positively influence recipients’ lives, they are not a singular solution to societal challenges. The OpenResearch study, led by Elizabeth Rhodes, provided insights into how people utilize unconditional cash.
Rhodes, who serves as research director for the nonprofit, initially encountered Altman’s interest in UBI while completing her Ph.D. at the University of michigan. Altman, even during OpenAI’s early stages, expressed a desire to understand how direct cash payments could offset potential labor market disruptions caused by artificial intelligence.
The openresearch study, backed by $14 million from Altman, involved providing $1,000 monthly to