Raw LLM Responses

Not a dumb question. I'm surprised that Sanders didn't propose any solutions. What you are referring to is called the "demand problem." Historically automation has always created more consumption and new jobs than it destroyed, a process known as creative destruction. New industries and new technologies drastically reduce the cost of existing goods (making consumers effectively "richer") and create entirely new goods and services that people spend money on. The jobs created are in areas no one could have predicted (e.g., social media managers, AI prompt engineers, drone operators). AI will often augment (make more productive) existing workers, rather than fully replacing them, leading to overall productivity gains that increase prosperity for all. While AI may cause mass displacement, one could argue that society can solve the demand problem by redistributing wealth generated by automation. This preserves consumer demand without relying on traditional employment. Programs such as Universal Basic Income (UBI): A periodic, unconditional cash payment to every citizen. The UBI ensures that even those without a traditional job maintain the purchasing power necessary to consume the automated economy's goods and services. A tax on the productivity gains or profits of companies that use AI/robots to replace human workers. This revenue would be used to fund the UBI, essentially taxing the machines to pay the consumers. Granting citizens ownership stakes or dividends from the data they generate or the automated infrastructure (similar to taxing capital, not labor). These are all policies that could solve the demand problem. The ultimate outcome hinges on whether policy can successfully manage the inevitable disruption caused by AI technology.