29/09/2025
Bill Gates Wants To 'Tax The Robots' That Take Your Job – And Some Say It Could Fund Universal Basic Income To Replace Lost Wages.
Back in 2017—well before ChatGPT became a topic of everyday conversation—Bill Gates introduced a bold and unconventional idea: impose a tax on robots.
The Microsoft cofounder proposed that businesses using machines to take over jobs previously held by people should pay taxes on those machines, similar to how they pay payroll taxes for human employees.
At the time, the suggestion was both simple and thought-provoking, addressing a concern that many had yet to foresee.
Fast forward to the present, and the concern is no longer theoretical.
With AI increasingly replacing human labor in sectors like manufacturing and logistics, Gates' idea now seems strikingly forward-looking.
As automation reshapes entire industries, the economic ripple effects have triggered serious global discussions.
What once seemed like an abstract notion—taxing robots—is now being seriously considered as a potential policy measure.
While Gates didn't directly link his proposal to universal basic income (UBI), the two ideas have frequently been associated.
During a 2017 Reddit AMA, he remarked that the U.S. wasn’t yet wealthy enough to adopt UBI but didn’t rule it out for the future.
His more recent views, shared in the 2024 Netflix series What's Next? The Future With Bill Gates, suggest a shift.
He argues that programs like UBI, aimed at reducing poverty, could ultimately lead to long-term cost savings.
He cited data indicating that child poverty alone costs the U.S. more than $1 trillion each year.
