California Offers Subsidies to Firms Keeping Human Workers

Governor Gavin Newsom signed a first-of-its-kind executive order directing California agencies to explore subsidies for companies that retain workers instead of replacing them with AI. The order also calls for expanded retraining programs and feasibility studies into universal basic income and giving residents stakes in corporate assets. The move comes amid rising anxiety over AI-driven job losses, with major firms like Meta, Intel, Amazon, and Cisco cutting thousands of workers this year. While some experts warn of mass unemployment, others argue AI will transform rather than eliminate jobs by freeing workers for higher-value roles.