Will Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Universal Basic Income (UBI) Finally Allow Decolonization From Capitalism?

Increasingly, news outlets and articles mention the dangers of artificial intelligence, or AI, particularly when it comes to mass job losses in the economy. OpenAI, the company that has created ChatGPT, is reportedly experimenting with universal basic income (UBI) in preparation for such major societal changes as we implement AI increasingly in various industries and sectors.

One of the key aspects of modern colonial life is the prevalence of capitalist systems, where competition is regarded as good and the dominance of winning companies and individuals are celebrated as successes. But as capitalism continues in human history, we can see that the system creates stratifications in society and wealth distribution becomes skewed to a select few. Traditional societies, particularly the Indigenous peoples' cultures, had a different understanding of wealth and property, compared to the settler cultures who were obsessed about defending, conquering, and preserving. In particular, the societies that cherished nature and existed in balance with their ecological surroundings were much more healthy and forethinking. Agriculture and the development of comfortable cities led to the degradation of our physical bodies with obesity and other preventable diseases. The innovations resulting from capitalist systems cater to the laziness of human beings that supply the market demand for convenience. Such innovations drive further devolutions of human health and our bodies.

For thousands of years, humans have been focused on easing bodily discomforts and meeting physical needs for survival. In our recent centuries, we have achieved this in the wealthy nations and the focus had been shifted to easing our mental discomforts. Such attempts on our minds have resulted in conflicts and violence due to ideologies and disagreements. It has also led to the creation of the digital era and now the emerging prevalence of AI. With this, humans will adapt to the comforts that AI brings, but also it will lead to further potential ills of the mind because we will no longer be able to do certain things that the mind used to do. What will result when AI dominates our thinking patterns and societal relatedness? Already, we have begun to see how social media influences human thought and ideas. It has led to revolutions and societal change, but also anxiety and depression.

One benefit of AI is perhaps the predicted loss of millions of jobs that would signal a massive societal change. We need change from the current crimes against the planet committed by capitalist systems based on hyper competition and corporate greed. We need to wake up from imaginary currencies and arbitrarily designated value systems of capitalism and begin to value nature and other species that share and provide value to our species. We need to return to respecting all life on the planet so that we can begin to respect ourselves and our future generations to come. We need to look long-term rather than being blinded by short-term exploitations of our generations. This is where decolonization comes in. A societal system where capitalism is known to be dangerous and owning pieces of nature is not only frowned upon, but impossible to fathom. Nature is to be shared for all life, not just humans, and especially not just for certain humans. Universal basic needs must be met for all modern humans, and UBI is a good starting point.

Decolonization also means a unified planetary system that mutually benefits all humans across the globe. No more regional economic slavery and advantages gained from the exploitation of the third world. Borders and culturally constructed national identities based on resource competition and conflicts must be dissolved. We need to work together to heal this planet and this requires everyone to help. We need the brightest minds to figure out this new system and how it will work. We need the richest pockets to surrender and fund the societal change. We need the bravest of us to commit to decolonization so that we can have a future to be proud of. UBI can be a starting point. It gives me hope.