UK Minister Advocates for Universal Basic Income Amid AI-Driven Job Displacement
Lord Jason Stockwood has called for government intervention to address the societal upheaval caused by AI, suggesting a universal basic income (UBI) or lifelong retraining mechanisms. "Undoubtedly we're going to have to think really carefully about how we soft-land those industries that go away," he stated, acknowledging the "bumpy" transition ahead. While UBI remains unofficial policy, Stockwood confirmed discussions are underway within government circles.
The warning comes as Anthropic's CEO predicts "unusually painful" labor market disruptions, with AI acting as a "general labor substitute for humans." London Mayor Sadiq Khan echoes concerns about a potential "new era of mass unemployment," while Technology Secretary Liz Kendall acknowledges specific risks to entry-level finance and law positions. Despite anticipating net job creation, Kendall admitted the transition won't be painless.
