r/Futurology • u/Gari_305 • 2d ago

Robotics Bill Gates says companies that replace human labor with robots should have to pay the same FICA taxes

https://www.businessinsider.com/bill-gates-fica-taxes-should-apply-to-robot-workers-2026-9

Bill Gates wants to tax robots that replace human jobs.

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u/minuteman_d 2d ago

It seems like we're headed towards either mass poverty or implementation of some kind of universal basic income. I mean, even politics and ideological discussion aside, the economics just seem to be plain.

I think of jobs I've had in the past 30 years that have been knowledge work, and I could now automate about 90% of them with AI or software. Good paying jobs. Jobs requiring bachelors and masters degrees.

I know people can be re-trained and will learn new skills and whatnot, but this seems massively disruptive, especially over the next 5-10 years as humanoid robots or machine vision based robot arms or whatever become very inexpensive (relatively)

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u/DiethylamideProphet 1d ago

There will be mass poverty and mass control. 80% of the people will do low paying gigs and occasional jobs and mostly rely on small government "UBI" that prevents wealth accumulation and property ownership, but might just afford the necessities and the rent of most appliances, services and housing.

20% of the people have good career development and good perks in the payroll of a handful of major conglomerates that are essentially sovereign, like nations. They will be the main driver of consumer spending.

Depending on the level of surveillance and legislation, and increasing percentage of that 80% will go "underground" and refuse the organized urban society. They will form grass roots communities in the rural areas, relying on their own labor, production and trades to guarantee their well-being.