California: Unprecedented Decree Against the Impact of AI on Employment

The Governor of California has taken an unprecedented step in the United States by signing an executive order aimed at protecting workers from the threat of artificial intelligence (AI) on employment. This initiative marks the first time a U.S. governor has engaged so directly in the fight against job losses due to automation.

California state agencies will collaborate with researchers, unions, and the AI industry to develop new strategies for the labor market. Among the measures being considered, grants will be awarded to companies that choose to retain their employees rather than replace them with AI technologies. Additionally, retraining programs will be expanded, particularly targeting office workers.

Another innovative aspect of the decree is the examination of the concept of "universal basic capital." This idea aims to offer all citizens shares in stocks or funds, thereby ensuring them a degree of financial security in the face of labor market transformations.

Governor Newsom emphasized that traditional unemployment insurance will not be sufficient to address the challenges posed by AI. He reacted to alarming forecasts, such as those from Dario Amodei, co-founder of Anthropic, who estimates that nearly half of office jobs could disappear in the next five years. Newsom also criticized the current tax system, which tends to favor automation at the expense of workers, according to the New York Times.