Universal Basic Income to be trialled in UK amid rise of AI

A Universal Basic Income (UBI) pilot is set to be trialled in the UK for the first time as concerns about the impact of the latest developments in AI on Britain’s workforce continue.

The trial, run by thinktank Autonomy, will give thirty trial participants in two areas of the UK a ‘no strings attached’ sum of £1,600 per month over two years to gauge its effect on their mental and physical wellbeing.

New developments in AI, including the launch of OpenAI’s generative AI-based chatbot ChatGPT last year, have firmly catapulted the technology into public consciousness in recent months.

It has also come under scrutiny by some, with a recent open letter by the Elon Musk-funded Future of Life Institute calling for a “six-month pause” on training AI systems, while the EU’s tech chief recently suggesting that AI development is in need of a “voluntary code of conduct”.

Telecoms giant BT recently announced plans to axe over 50,000 jobs by the end of the decade, with around a fifth of roles to be cut in customer services and likely be replaced by technology such as AI.

Should this trend continue across other companies and industries, the practicalities of managing AI in society will need to evolve in line with its ongoing presence in British workforces.

Will Stronge, director of research at Autonomy said the potential benefits of UBI to address areas such as poverty and mental wellbeing were “too large to ignore”.

“With the decades ahead set to be full of economic shocks due to climate change and new forms of automation, basic income is going to be a crucial part of securing livelihoods in the future,” he said.

    Share Story:

Recent Stories


The future-ready CFO: Driving strategic growth and innovation
This National Technology News webinar sponsored by Sage will explore how CFOs can leverage their unique blend of financial acumen, technological savvy, and strategic mindset to foster cross-functional collaboration and shape overall company direction. Attendees will gain insights into breaking down operational silos, aligning goals across departments like IT, operations, HR, and marketing, and utilising technology to enable real-time data sharing and visibility.

The corporate roadmap to payment excellence: Keeping pace with emerging trends to maximise growth opportunities
In today's rapidly evolving finance and accounting landscape, one of the biggest challenges organisations face is attracting and retaining top talent. As automation and AI revolutionise the profession, finance teams require new skillsets centred on analysis, collaboration, and strategic thinking to drive sustainable competitive advantage.