Sam Altman wants robots to pay tax when AI takes over, here is what it means for humans

Sam Altman suggests that in the future, governments should tax machines and robots, as they may end up doing most of the work in the economy. But if robots work and pay taxes, what will humans do? Will machines eventually take over, or will this shift bring more abundance, as many tech leaders suggest?

In Short

• OpenAI says AI could reduce jobs and shrink traditional tax revenues based on human labour
• OpenAI proposes taxing automated work to create a Public Wealth Fund for citizens
• The ChatGPT makers warns that without policy changes, AI could widen inequality in society

With each passing day, artificial intelligence is becoming smarter, more capable, and inching closer to superintelligence. This is the idea that machines could become as capable as humans, with similar cognitive abilities, essentially taking over a large share of human jobs. In fact, AI is already changing the job market and reshaping the economy, and this shift is only expected to accelerate in the future.

So, with machines taking over jobs, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman is now asking: why not tax robots? And could governments use that money to support society? The idea of taxing robots comes from a broader policy framework which OpenAI recently shared with title “Industrial policy for the Intelligence Age”.

In the paper, the company argues around how economies need to adapt as AI changes the way we work, while raising the question of whether companies should pay for the work done by machines.

But why taxing robot?

The logic of OpenAI behind taxing machines is based on an unsettling possibility. As AI systems grow more capable, they are expected to take over not just repetitive tasks, but also complex work that currently requires human intelligence. OpenAI itself describes a future where AI could outperform even the smartest humans across many domains, fundamentally reshaping how work gets done.

While this could boost productivity and profits, it also creates a big problem for humans.

Right now our economies run on human labour. Governments collect taxes largely through income tax and payroll contributions. But if AI takes on a large share of work, it could reduce jobs and shrink the tax base.

It’s not just about fewer jobs, AI could create a much larger imbalance. Big companies and leaders will make more money, while the rest of the section of society will struggle, and that could eventually weaken public funding systems.

Here, Altman is not alone in talking about a future where robots will be on the job roles, or taxing the robots to build basic income.

Earlier Musk had predicted that in the next 10 to 20 years, work could become optional, and we will live in a future of abundance, where robots and AI meet most human needs, and money becomes less relevant.

Meanwhile, Bill Gates has also argued that if automation replaces human jobs, it could widen inequality in society, where a certain section becomes richer while the majority is affected. He therefore suggests that robots should be taxed, and that money could help fund systems like universal basic income.

So what does it actually mean to “tax a robot”?

Not literally, of course. No one is sending tax forms to machines. Instead, Altman suggests modernising the tax system itself. This includes shifting towards capital-based taxation, such as higher taxes on corporate income, capital gains for the wealthy, and new levies tied to AI-driven or “automated” labour.

OpenAI warns that without such changes, wealth could become increasingly concentrated in the hands of a few companies controlling powerful AI systems.

The goal is simple: if machines are generating more economic value than humans, then the government should create a system that allow people to benefit from the upside of AI, even if they are not directly involved in it.

One key idea, OpenAI suggests, is creating a Public Wealth Fund. “Create a Public Wealth Fund that provides every citizen—including those not invested in financial markets—with a stake in AI-driven economic growth. While tax reforms help ensure governments can continue to fund essential programs, a Public Wealth Fund is designed to ensure that people directly share in the upside of that growth,” says OpenAI.

In practice, this could mean governments and AI companies contributing to a shared fund that invests in the AI economy, with returns distributed back to citizens.

In addition the blueprint also suggests treating access to AI as a “foundational right”. Much like electricity or the internet, OpenAI says, AI should become essential infrastructure, something everyone needs to participate in the modern economy.

So what does this mean for human work?

Well, AI leaders are imagining a future where machines take over routine, repetitive, or physically demanding tasks. This would allow humans to shift towards more “human-centred” roles—such as healthcare, education, and community services, where they will work alongside machines to enhance outcomes. In these fields, while AI will still manage administrative burdens and personalize data, human empathy and personal interaction will remain essential.

On the surface, this does look like an optimistic vision. One where AI brings a more relaxed life,essential goods become cheaper, scientific breakthroughs accelerate, and people have more time to focus on meaningful work. But the journey will not be that smooth.

OpenAI warns that in this transition, jobs will be disrupted, industries will shift, and without the right policies in place, inequality could widen rather than shrink.

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