There’s a Long-Shot Proposal to Protect California Workers From AI
There’s a Long-Shot Proposal to Protect California Workers From AI
Publish Date: 2026-05-08 11:00:00
Source Domain: www.wired.com
- Billionaire California gubernatorial candidate Tom Steyer proposes to guarantee jobs with benefits for workers displaced by artificial intelligence.
- This plan builds on a broader AI policy framework released in March and aims to make California the first major economy to ensure “good-paying” jobs for those affected by AI.
- Steyer would fund this initiative by introducing a “token tax” on big tech companies for every unit of data processed by AI, which would then go to the Golden State Sovereign Wealth Fund.
- The fund would be used for building housing, improving health care, and modernizing California’s energy infrastructure.
- Steyer’s initiative also includes expanding unemployment insurance and establishing a new agency called the AI Worker Protection Administration to safeguard workers’ rights.
- Steyer’s proposal comes amidst broader efforts at state and federal levels to address the impact of AI on the workforce, including similar concepts suggested by AI executives and lawmakers.
- Steyer emphasizes the need for a proactive approach to ensure California workers do not get left behind in the AI transition.
- His plan differentiates from his Democratic primary opponent, Xavier Becerra, who has proposed workforce investment and transition support without a specific funding mechanism.
