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The power of artificial intelligence can unlock enormous possibilities — but it also raises a fundamental question: how will humans make a living if machines take over?
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Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, faced that blunt question in a recent conversation with comedian Theo Von.
“How will people survive?” Von asked.
Altman’s first answer wasn’t reassuring: “I don’t know, neither does anybody else.”
But he quickly pivoted to what he called his two “best guesses.”
The first, he said, is that giving everyone access to the latest version of ChatGPT could supercharge productivity, helping people “make way more money” and grow richer faster “than ever before.” The second is that advanced AI might discover breakthroughs — from new cures for diseases to new kinds of energy and even new ways to build spaceships — though, he admitted, much of that value would flow to “cluster owners” like OpenAI.
“Just so that I’m not dodging the question here,” he admitted.
That’s when the three big letters entered the conversation: UBI.
“I think society will very quickly say, ‘Okay, we got to have some new economic model where we share that and distribute that to people.’ I used to be really excited about things like UBI. I still am kind of excited, like, universal basic income, where you just give everybody money,” he said.
Universal extreme wealth?
Universal basic income is a policy idea that gives every citizen a regular cash payment, regardless of employment status or income. But Altman argued that traditional UBI would leave people feeling passive. Instead, he believes individuals need a sense of agency — a stake in the future shaped by AI.
“What I would want is, like, an ownership share in whatever the AI creates — that I feel like I’m participating in this thing that’s going to compound and get more valuable over time,” he said.
That, he added, would amount to “universal basic wealth — better than universal basic income. And I think I don’t like basic either. I want, like, universal extreme wealth for everybody”
Altman floated what he called a “crazy idea”: measuring the world’s AI output in tokens and distributing part of it globally. For example, if AI produced 20 quintillion tokens a year, 12 would go to the traditional capitalist system while eight would be shared equally among the planet’s 8 billion people. That would amount to 1 billion tokens per person (Altman said 1 trillion, but the math works out to 1 billion). Individuals could then use, sell, or pool their tokens, creating what he described as a form of “universal basic wealth” powered by AI.
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The concept of UBI — in all its forms — has long been a lightning rod for debate.
Supporters see it as essential in an age of automation. Martin Ford, author of “Rise of the Robots,” argues that UBI would ensure income is “adequately distributed throughout the population,” helping maintain social stability and a “decent standard of living.”
Critics, however, warn of downsides. Some say it could discourage work or fuel inflation (though AI-driven productivity gains might offset that). Others highlight the enormous costs and political hurdles.
“I’m not a UBI guy,” Nobel-winning economist Paul Krugman said. “Trouble with UBI is that either it’s going to cost an amount that’s beyond what I expect to be politically possible in the next several decades, or it’s going to be way inadequate.”
While Altman’s vision of “universal extreme wealth” remains speculative, the appeal of income without labor is obvious. And in today’s economy, every extra dollar counts.
So here’s a look at two simple ways to generate your own passive income — no futuristic technology required.
Earn rental income without being a landlord
Real estate has been one of the most popular ways to generate recurring income. When you own rental property and tenants pay rent, you earn a steady monthly cash flow.
It’s also a popular hedge against inflation, as property values and rental income tend to rise alongside the cost of living.
However, while real estate investing has clear benefits, being a landlord comes with challenges. Managing a property involves finding and screening tenants, collecting rent and handling maintenance and repair requests (out of your own pocket) — and that’s assuming you can save enough for a downpayment and get a mortgage to buy the property in the first place.
The good news? These days, you don’t need to buy a property outright to reap the benefits of real estate investing. Mogul is a real estate investment platform offering fractional ownership in blue-chip rental properties, which gives investors monthly rental income, real-time appreciation and tax benefits — without the need for a hefty down payment or 3 A.M. tenant calls.
Founded by former Goldman Sachs real estate investors, the team hand-picks the top 1% of single-family rental homes nationwide, guided by proprietary underwriting and market analytics typically used by large institutions.
Each property undergoes a vetting process, requiring a minimum 12% return even in downside scenarios. Across the board, the platform features an average annual IRR of 18.8%. Their cash-on-cash yields, meanwhile, average between 10 to 12% annually.
Every investment is secured by real assets, not dependent on the platform’s viability. Each property is held in a standalone Propco LLC, so investors own the property — not the platform. Blockchain-based fractionalization adds a layer of safety, ensuring a permanent, verifiable record of each stake.
Getting started is a quick and easy process. With a minimum investment of $250, you can sign up for an account and then browse available properties. Once you verify your information with their team, you can invest in the properties of your choice in as little as 30 seconds.
Another option is First National Realty Partners (FNRP), which allows accredited investors to diversify their portfolio through grocery-anchored commercial properties without taking on the responsibilities of being a landlord.
With a minimum investment of $50,000, investors can own a share of properties leased by national brands like Whole Foods, Kroger and Walmart, which provide essential goods to their communities. Thanks to Triple Net (NNN) leases, accredited investors are able to invest in these properties without worrying about tenant costs cutting into their potential returns.
Simply answer a few questions — including how much you would like to invest — to start browsing their full list of available properties.
Dividends — or as Rockefeller put it, ‘the only thing that gives me pleasure’
Dividends are payments companies make to shareholders out of their profits, typically on a quarterly basis.
Investing in dividend-paying companies allows you to generate passive income without selling your shares — and it can be surprisingly satisfying. As John D. Rockefeller, one of the richest Americans in history, once said, “Do you know the only thing that gives me pleasure? It’s to see my dividends coming in.”
While stock prices can rise and fall, companies with a strong track record of paying — and growing — dividends offer investors a steady cash flow. Over time, those increases can compound into a powerful income stream.
Not sure where to start? That’s where platforms like Moby can come in. Their team of former hedge fund analysts does the heavy lifting — breaking down the market, flagging quality stocks and making the research easy to digest.
In fact, across nearly 400 stock picks over the past four years, Moby’s recommendations have beaten the S&P 500 by almost 12% on average. Their research keeps you up-to-the-minute on market shifts and takes the guesswork out of choosing investments.
Plus, their reports are easy to understand for beginners, so you can become a smarter investor in just five minutes.
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This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.