Billionaire Governor of California Candidate Tom Steyer’s Groundbreaking AI Job Guarantee Proposal
Billionaire Governor of California Candidate Tom Steyer is putting forward a new proposal that would guarantee jobs with benefits for workers laid off by artificial intelligence. He is the first statewide candidate to make such a promise.
A Vision for AI-Affected Workers
Tom Steyer’s proposal seeks to make California a pioneer in addressing the impact of artificial intelligence on the workforce. Building on a broader AI policy framework released in March, Steyer promises to make California the “first major economy in the world” to ensure “well-paying” jobs for workers affected by AI. His plan includes introducing a “token tax,” taxing big tech companies “a fraction of a cent for each unit of data processed” for AI. The revenue from this tax would contribute to the Golden State Sovereign Wealth Fund, supporting housing, healthcare, and energy infrastructure modernization.
Investing in California’s Future
A campaign memo viewed by WIRED outlines the initiative’s goals: strengthening the state’s economic foundation, investing in communities, and creating vibrant public spaces. Steyer’s focus on education and training programs aims to equip Californians with the skills needed to thrive in an AI-driven economy.
Protecting Workers’ Rights
Steyer’s plan also proposes expanding unemployment insurance and establishing the AI Worker Protection Administration. This new agency would comprise union leaders, academics, and technologists to adopt rules safeguarding workers’ rights. “Across this state, people are afraid that AI will undermine the entire economy and they will lose their jobs,” Steyer tells WIRED. “We believe this can be an amazing transformational technology in many ways, but we are not about leaving the people of California behind.”
Comparing National Efforts
Steyer’s job guarantee emerges amid growing concerns about AI’s impact on the U.S. workforce. In New Jersey, state Senator Troy Singleton introduced a bill requiring companies replacing workers with AI to fund retraining programs. Several proposals in Congress also advocate for grants and tax credits for AI training.
Token Tax: A Controversial Solution
The concept of a token tax, previously proposed by Dario Amodei, CEO of Anthropic, and now championed by Steyer, has sparked debate. “It’s obviously not in my economic interest,” Amodei told Axios, “but I think that would be a reasonable solution to the problem.” OpenAI also proposed a similar public asset fund in April.
Steyer vs. Becerra: Competing AI Visions
Steyer’s announcement follows Democratic primary opponent Xavier Becerra’s AI plan. Becerra advocates for “investments in workforce and transition support” without specifying a funding mechanism. “Displacement without support is abandonment,” Becerra remarked, emphasizing collaboration with the Legislature and industry partners.
Federal Challenges and Local Campaigns
The White House has threatened action against states regulating AI, with an executive order potentially stripping federal broadband funding from states with “burdensome” AI laws. In New York, a super PAC backed by Silicon Valley figures has targeted candidates advocating for AI regulation.
“It doesn’t seem remotely sensible not to regulate AI,” says Steyer. “But if California wants to be a leader, we need to have a vision for the future that includes something that isn’t just about letting entrepreneurs get rich at the expense of everyone else.”
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