As AI advances toward “superintelligence,” OpenAI is urging policymakers to rethink how economies work, from taxation to worker protection, to prevent inequality from widening.

As Washington prepares for new debates on AI regulation, OpenAI has released a policy roadmap outlining how powerful AI systems could transform the economic structure itself. The company argues that future AI could significantly boost corporate profits and capital gains, while reducing reliance on traditional income-based taxation.

That shift creates a fundamental challenge. If fewer people earn income through traditional jobs, governments may struggle to fund key programs like Social Security. To address this, OpenAI suggests that policymakers may eventually need to consider higher taxes on corporations and investors, along with new concepts such as taxing companies that replace workers with automation.

At the same time, the company places strong emphasis on its workers. It warns that many could be left behind as AI systems take over certain tasks, and calls for stronger support systems. These include improving unemployment and healthcare access, expanding benefits that follow workers across jobs, and even experimenting with shorter workweeks without reducing pay. The goal is to adapt the labor system to a world where work itself may change.

One of the more striking ideas is the creation of a public AI investment fund, designed to distribute returns from AI-driven growth directly to citizens. This approach would aim to ensure that the economic gains from AI are shared more broadly, rather than concentrated among a small group of companies and investors.

Politically, OpenAI is trying to balance both sides. It broadly aligns with Donald Trump’s push for limited regulation to keep the US competitive in the global AI race, particularly against China. But it also supports greater international coordination on AI safety and a stronger role for governments in evaluating advanced systems.

The broader message is clear. AI is no longer just about technology — it is becoming a question of how economies distribute income, protect workers, and define fairness in a world where machines may do more of the work.

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