Anthropic, the creator of the Claude AI chatbot, announced a $200 million investment on Wednesday to research the economic and labor market disruptions caused by artificial intelligence.
Alongside the financial commitment, Anthropic CEO and co-founder Dario Amodei published an essay arguing that the government must prepare economic safety nets—potentially including universal basic income (UBI)—for workers displaced by the technology. Amodei warned that AI could trigger labor market shifts far more severe and long-lasting than previous technological revolutions.
“The key challenge in such a world won’t be incentivizing growth, but finding a way for everyone to share in the benefits,” Amodei wrote. He emphasized that his warnings are not meant to cast him as a "prophet of doom," but rather to ensure policymakers and the private sector are prepared to adapt.
To fund potential safety nets, Amodei suggested levying taxes on relevant AI companies or increasing the capital gains tax. His policy framework also calls for improved data tracking of AI-driven job losses and proactive employment incentives to slow displacement.
Anthropic’s proposals outline a tiered government response based on national unemployment rates triggered by AI: 5%, 10%, and an "unprecedented" level. In the most severe scenario, the company suggests permanent support mechanisms like UBI, sovereign wealth funds, and equity-sharing models. For context, the latest U.S. unemployment rate was reported at 4.3%.
The $200 million pledge will be directed toward a new Economic Futures Research Fund to back research trials and evaluate public policy programs. Additionally, Anthropic is launching a $150 million national fellowship aimed at helping early-career professionals extend AI benefits to communities across the country.
Anthropic’s announcement follows similar wealth-sharing discussions from rival OpenAI. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman recently met with Senator Bernie Sanders to propose a public wealth fund financed by AI company stocks to spread the technology's fortune. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump told reporters on Wednesday that he plans to meet with leading AI executives to discuss how the industry can "give back" to the public to ensure widespread prosperity. Both Anthropic and OpenAI are also currently preparing for initial public offerings, joining a broader tech IPO trend that includes Elon Musk's SpaceX.
Beyond economic concerns, Amodei’s essay heavily emphasized AI safety. He proposed that AI regulation should mirror the strict oversight seen in the aviation, automotive, and pharmaceutical industries. Under his framework, AI models would undergo rigorous technical testing and auditing—similar to FAA standards for airplanes—and the government should have the authority to block or deter the release of models that pose catastrophic risks.
These safety recommendations align with recent federal actions. Last week, President Trump signed an executive order establishing a framework for the government to review the national security risks of advanced AI systems for up to a month prior to their public release.
Amodei noted that AI, like airplanes and drugs, is a powerful technology essential to the modern economy, but "capable of killing large numbers of people if designed or operated poorly."
In an interview with @ABC News' @LinseyDavis, Anthropic CEO and co-founder Dario Amodei has issued an urgent warning about the dangers of AI, calling for government regulation as companies across the globe develop the technology. pic.twitter.com/uojDc2wmdZ
— World News Tonight (@ABCWorldNews) June 11, 2026