Could introducing a universal basic income help Britain become an AI ‘superpower’?
Do you agree with our readers? Have your say on these MetroTalk topics and more in the comments.
Should we be more optimistic about the prospect of technological progress?
Mrs Hurdman (MetroTalk, Thu) says Sir Keir Starmer’s determination to make Britain an AI ‘superpower’ will see people lose their jobs to the technology.
It’s important to realise that we can’t deny progress.
In 1930, the economist John Maynard Keynes said that, by 2030, we’d all be working 15 hours a week.
AI could allow this to happen – but it does mean we have to support those who can no longer work.
When the Beveridge Report led to the welfare state, a competing idea at the time was Lady Rhys-Williams’s basic income for all.
We may need to start reconsidering a Universal Basic Income, paid for by a robot tax or some sort of land tax, as once described by Henry George.
If you learn some economic history (through podcasts such as mine), you’ll find there are many solutions to the world’s problems and a great deal of optimism for a ‘better life’ as well. Gavin, (Co-Host Economics In Ten), Knebworth
But, first can Keir Starmer can pull off his AI plan?
‘It’s not AI you have to worry about’
Other nations are taking AI much more seriously than us. Sir Keir Starmer’s plan is just that, a plan.
No one can truly predict or properly prepare us for the future but we need to do something. The reality is that AI won’t take your jobs, but those who use it will. T Burnett, Yorkshire
‘Energy is way too expensive for AI’
The prime minister says he will get AI into the UK. This is very unlikely. AI needs a great amount of cheap energy, while ours is about the most expensive in the world, so AI will go elsewhere.
Why is our energy so expensive? John, London
A reader suggests a comically medieval and gross way reduce prison overcrowding
‘A dunking could act as the ultimate deterrent in our penal system’
One way of reducing the overcrowding in our prisons could be a sentence involving the ducking of the offender in our polluted and sewage-drenched seas, rivers and lakes.
The severity of the crime could result in several duckings. The judge would place a swimming hat upon his head as he passed sentence so the offender would be under no illusion as to the fate that awaited him.
The words, ‘I sentence you to a dunking, doughnut’ could act as the ultimate deterrent in our penal system. J Ambrose, via email
How about fixing the UK’s boarder control problems while we’re at it…
‘It’s the quickest and most effective way’
By far the quickest and most effective way to fix the UK’s border control problems would be to fire all current Border Force personnel and replace them with doctors’ receptionists.
Illegal immigrants wouldn’t have a snowball’s chance in hell of getting past them! Bob Readman, Sevenoaks
Liz Truss is still trying to clear her name over the economic crisis…
‘Can we take action against Truss?’
If Liz Truss can take legal action against Sir Keir Starmer over his claims she ‘crashed the economy’, can we take action against Truss for costing us all higher mortgage payments? Wee Haggis, Edinburgh
The concept of a tourist tax isn’t a new one
‘Lots of places already have it’
James Bradshaw (MetroTalk, Wed) complains about chancellor Rachel Reeves’s idea of a hotel tourist tax.
He says it’s only being thought of as necessary because of her budget, despite the fact many places have already introduced the tax.
In a bid to mitigate the impacts of overtourism, many European cities have introduced ‘tourist taxes’.
Closer to home, Bournemouth and surrounding towns have announced a tax of £2 per night for those staying in the larger hotels in the area.
It is estimated that this move will generate around £12million over the next five years, helping to fund local infrastructure and facilities. Ali T, London
Is Rachel Reeves receiving undue heat because she’s a woman?
Lots of ministers have had shaky starts – so why Reeves?
People are asking for Reeves’s head
on a platter due to factors that are generally outside of her control, such as bond yields.
Lots of ministers have had shaky starts – Wes Streeting’s mediocre performance as health secretary stands out to me – yet their positions have not come into question. So what’s the difference with Reeves?
Ah yes, of course – she’s a woman. Charlie Parrett, Stoke
This reader is resisting ‘enshittification’
‘I can’t do much about the bigger issues but I can do this…’
Thanks to Steven (MetroTalk, Wed) for enriching my vocabulary.
‘Enshittification’ sums it all up – from the global situation, post-wrecksit (Brexit) UK, to more government broken promises and supermarket service.
I can’t do much about the bigger issues but I’ve stopped using supermarkets that discriminate against cash payers at self-checkouts.JW, North London
‘Fat kids? I blame Blair’s pitch project’
‘Kids weren’t fat in the 50s’
I doubt whether forcing children to clear their plates makes them fat,
as the British Nutrition Foundation suggests (Metro, Wed). When I went to school in the 1950s, we had healthy, nutritious dinners, and sometimes even had ‘seconds’, then went home in the evening to another nutritious meal. We rarely had fat pupils. I think the problem is lack of exercise in schools, thanks to Tony Blair selling off school playing fields. Madeline Bates, Southport