Yup. It's called universal basic income.

It's like this: productivity is up 70% since the 1970s so who did all that money go to?

Ordinary people should be working less hours for the same $ but they aren't.

Hint: it went to the richest folks.

Everything is designed to keep us tired, frustrated, and just asleep enough that we are barely restrained from tarring and feathering the bastards.

@mordant Glad someone brought up UBI. Personally, i'm not a fan for exactly the reasons people dislike capitalism. UBI would mean that whatever pathetic ration they decide to reward you for being human is essentially all you get. The only way to escape is to be someone who owns the computational labor and sell it just above break even. Larger entities that can own more computational ability will take off way faster or do just as much for little or no profit. The only way to win is to beat the game before it begins.

@Happy_Killbot Yeah whether I'd actually be in favor of a specific UBI proposal would have everything to do with how it's administered and how much it is. Most proposals I've heard are way too timid and the result of pilot programs done with such silly amounts are predictable.

I get a small pension via annuity from my late / prior wife's employer that is in the meager ballpark of some UBI proposals and it's so little that I barely register its monthly arrival. I joke that I'll always have any two of (extremely) basic food, shelter or clothing out of that -- probably Ramen noodles, some cans of sterno and some Salvation Army clothing to keep in my refrigerator box under the nearest highway overpass -- but the whole point of UBI is for people to be secure in the basics, not choosing among them.

@mordant I haven't seen a proposal I liked yet either. Here are some back of the envelope calculations. If the US GDP $18.62 Trillion was divided equally amongst its 323 million population with 25% removed for reinvestment that would leave ~$43,000 for everyone. This is a livable salary but only 70% of the current median income ($61,372).

Why would AI chose to share its resources? What motivation would it have to do that? A more realistic picture of the future is overwhelmingly wealthy super intelligent systems and their Human pets. It is unlikely that such a system would keep you around unless it needed you for something.