Bridgewater Urges AI Token Tax as 18% of U.S. Jobs Face 5-Year Displacement

1 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Aug 14

Bridgewater said governments should tax A.I. token consumption, arguing current tax systems favor machines over workers because human labor is taxed while machine labor largely is not.
Its internal analysis estimates 18% of current U.S. jobs could be displaced by A.I. within five years, making social disruption likely even if new roles emerge in relationship-heavy fields such as nursing and hospitality.
The hedge fund said policy must do two things at once: make society resilient to labor-market upheaval and avert technological catastrophe, warning that failing either would squander A.I.’s productivity gains.
Bridgewater framed the proposal as against its own near-term business interests because it has invested heavily in A.I., but said policymakers have only a short window to curb backlash from wealth concentration and job loss.