Reframing UBI into UBI’
I had to take a pause when Sam Altman, recently, started reframing the concept of Universal Basic Income (UBI) into Universal Basic Compute; likely influenced by his long-running study for which the final results/report hasn’t been published yet at the time of this writing. From using AI tools on a daily basis, it’s obvious to me that the dynamic range between those who have access to AI and those who don’t are going to be so vast that it will cause the biggest gap/divide we’ve seen to date as a civilization.
I’ve often thought about the weights that we as a society should assign to:
- Access to cashflow
- Feeling of purpose and usefulness
- Access to knowledge
I think most would agree that each pillar should be equally weighted, but we can all think of examples where one pillar has been prioritized to the detriment of the others. These examples, though relevant, would distract from the purpose of this article.
Intelligence (along with technology and infrastructure), at a societal level, seemed like an emergent property from these three pillars. However, it seems that we’re at the cusp of reframing it so that “Access to Intelligence” becomes the foundation upon which the other three pillars reside, almost acting as a load balancer between them.
I can see all the ways in which being given access to basic “compute units” can help support the self-determination towards the three pillars. For example, with the allotted ‘compute units’, one can choose to trade it in for cashflow at market rates. Or use the compute units to build something new and satisfy the pillar of finding purpose and usefulness. Or possibly consume the compute units to know the answers to burning questions; or just simply have an expert assistant to do your taxes optimally; or a friend to chat about food, events, and news.
As AI becomes increasingly integrated into our daily lives, it seems it’s time to rethink how we provide societal support in an age of rapid technological advancement. While the concept of Universal Basic Income (UBI) has been widely discussed, and something I was personally interested in, as a means to offer financial security amidst growing automation and job displacement; we might need to shift our focus from providing money to instead ensuring access to computational resources and intelligence. In Sam Altman, I do see the trademarks of a futurist operating back-wards to make the future real. He has three parallel initiatives (AI, energy, and money) that all converge towards this forward-thinking idea of Universal Basic Intelligence (UBI’). This reimagines societal support not as a cash handout, but as guaranteed access to the AI tools and services necessary for participating in modern(-modern) life.
Interestingly, the developing world leap-frogged the western world to go straight to cell phones (skipping land-line infrastructure saturation) and wireless internet. What surprising leap-frogs will we see in the space of AI?
The Rise of AI as a Household Necessity
Today, AI has already permeated many aspects of our lives, from virtual assistants; to smart home devices that automate everyday tasks; to phones that perform various tasks or sub-processes through the use of AI. However, as AI continues to evolve, its potential applications are expanding exponentially. Future homes might rely on AI for a wide array of functions, from personalized health monitoring to sophisticated home automation systems that anticipate our needs and preferences. Governments may step in with sovereign AI models (likely fine-tuned and regional RAG on top of base models that we’re already familiar with) and provide it as a steady stream per household. Ultimately, it’s in society’s best interests to have its citizens pursue endeavours informed by some level of basic intelligence (a level that would not be static over time).
Universal Basic Intelligence: A New Paradigm in Equity
The shift towards Universal Basic Intelligence involves ensuring that everyone has access to a base level of AI services. This access would empower individuals with the tools they need to enhance their lives, improve their skills, and adapt to a rapidly changing world:
- Empowerment Through AI: Instead of receiving a fixed income, individuals could be granted access to a base level of AI services. This would enable everyone to benefit from personalized education, health monitoring, and job assistance, empowering people to improve their lives through enhanced cognitive support.
- Reducing Inequality: By providing universal access to AI, we can reduce the digital divide and ensure that advancements in technology do not disproportionately benefit the wealthy. This model promotes equal opportunities for all, regardless of socioeconomic status. For a lot of early adopters, spending $30/month on an AI service is rational but it may not be the case for a large part of the population.
- Adapting to the Future of Work: As traditional jobs evolve or become obsolete, access to AI can help individuals adapt by providing tools for continuous learning and skill development. This ensures that everyone can stay competitive in a rapidly changing job market. I think most individuals are not actually having a visceral understanding of the impact these capabilities will bring to the notion of work.
- Enhanced Quality of Life: Universal access to AI can significantly improve quality of life by automating mundane tasks, offering personalized recommendations, and providing real-time support for a variety of needs, from healthcare to daily planning.
Metering AI Usage: How It Could Work
To envision AI as a utility, we need to think about how it would be delivered and monitored. Similar to how we receive electricity and water through dedicated infrastructure, AI services could be streamed into our homes via a continuous connection to an AI model provider. This connection would be metered independent of our general internet usage but could still be delivered through the same infrastructure.
Usage could be tracked and billed based on consumption, with metering systems in place to monitor how much AI is utilized. This could involve tiered pricing plans, where basic AI functions are available at a lower cost, and more advanced or intensive applications are priced higher. Additionally, time-based usage could also be a factor, with different rates for peak and off-peak hours, similar to how electricity usage is often billed. Similar to how some electricity grids allow you to sell back to the grid, we may see notions of selling compute units back to the grid if unused or not needed at that time. Or maybe it will be more similar to how corporations could trade carbon caps or commercial property owners can sell their land’s unused build-height allowances.
Challenges and Considerations
While the concept of AI as a utility and Universal Basic Intelligence is exciting, it also presents several challenges that need to be addressed:
- Privacy and Security: With AI services being streamed continuously into homes, ensuring the privacy and security of users’ data becomes paramount. Robust safeguards and regulations will be necessary to protect sensitive information.
- Infrastructure Development: Implementing a dedicated AI streaming infrastructure requires significant investment and coordination between technology providers and possibly new utility companies.
- Equity and Access: Ensuring that all households, regardless of socioeconomic status, have access to AI services will be crucial. Subsidies or tiered pricing models could help bridge the gap for lower-income families.
- Regulation and Standardization: Developing standards and regulations for AI as a utility will be essential to ensure consistent quality of service and fair pricing practices.
Conclusion
As we look ahead towards treating cognition and intelligence as a true utility and exploring the concept of Universal Basic Intelligence, we can transform the very fabric of our homes and lives. By preparing for this future, we can ensure that the benefits of AI are shared widely and equitably, paving the way for a new era of innovation and convenience.
