California gubernatorial candidate is a billionaire You can also find out more about the candidate Tom Steyer A new proposal is being rolled out that will guarantee job benefits to workers displaced By: artificial intelligence. This is the first candidate in the state to do so.
Steyer has developed a plan that builds on an AI framework. released in MarchCalifornia promises to be a better place “the first major economy in the world” You can be sure “good-paying” AI-affected workers will be given jobs. Steyer says he intends to do this by building on an earlier proposal to bring in a “token tax” Taxing big tech firms “a fraction of a cent for every unit of data processed” AI. Steyer’s Golden State Sovereign Wealth Fund would receive the funding from this tax. Some of it will be used to create jobs, improve health care and modernize California’s energy grid.
“The aim of the initiative will be to strengthen the foundation of the state’s economy, invest in our communities, and create beautiful, vibrant public spaces,” WIRED has viewed a memo from a political campaign. “To support these efforts, Tom will also invest heavily in training and apprenticeship programs across the state.”
In the memo it is stated that the new plan intends also to expand unemployment benefits and create a new AI Worker Protection Administration. This agency would be composed of academics and technologists as well union leaders who would then adopt rules that protect the rights of workers.
“People all over this state are terrified that AI is going to hollow out this whole economy and they’re going to lose their jobs. Young people are worried they’ll never get a job,” Steyer talks to WIRED. “We believe this can be an amazing transformational technology in many ways, but we’re not in the business of leaving people in California behind.”
Steyer’s job guarantee comes as lawmakers across the state and federal levels—and even some AI executives—scramble to address the ramifications of widespread AI adoption across the US workforce. New Jersey state senator Troy Singleton has recently proposed a law that requires companies that use AI to replace their workers to make contributions to an AI fund. pay to retrain Workers. The Congress is composed of a handful of proposals Grants and tax incentives are available to companies that provide AI training for existing employees.
Steyer has proposed a token-tax concept that was first suggested by Dario Amodei. “Obviously, that’s not in my economic interest,” Amodei told Axios last year. “But I think that would be a reasonable solution to the problem.” OpenAI had proposed something similar last month. public wealth fund Steyer is on the move.
Steyer’s announcement comes days after Democratic primary opponent Xavier Becerra—former Health and Human Services secretary under president Joe Biden—offered his own AI plan. Becerra proposes to eliminate the term “non-profit” from all of its proposals. “workforce investment and transition support,” But does not provide any specific funding mechanisms.
“Displacement without support is abandonment,” Becerra stated in a Monday memo Outlining his plans “I will work with the Legislature, the California public education system and industry partners to build accessible, stackable workforce programs that prepare Californians for the AI economy and support workers navigating role changes.”
The White House has been threatening to take action against states who choose to regulate AI. Donald Trump was president in December. signed an executive order States that have approved federal funding for broadband may lose it “onerous” AI laws. It’s happening locally as well. In New York, for example, a super-PAC, which is backed by several Silicon Valley giants including OpenAI founder Greg Brockman has endorsed a candidate. targeted Alex BoresA Manhattan candidate for the US Congress who made AI regulation a central part of his campaign.
“Not regulating AI doesn’t seem remotely reasonable,” Steyer says. “But if California wants to lead, we’ve got to have a vision for the future that includes something that is not just about letting entrepreneurs get rich at the expense of everybody else.”
