We tend to think of OpenAI and AI companies in general as pushing for minimal regulation so nothing slows their expansion. But in a new document, “Industrial Policy for the Intelligence Age,” OpenAI argues the opposite: that government oversight is not only necessary; we need it now.
It suggests that we need a new kind of industrial policy to deal with the upheaval that AI will create: “The transition to superintelligence will require an even more ambitious kind of industrial policy, one that reflects the ability of democratic societies to act collectively at scale to shape their economic future so that superintelligence benefits everyone.”
The risk to jobs is presented as the most immediate threat. “While we are convinced that AI’s benefits will far outweigh its challenges, we are aware of the risks – of disrupting jobs and entire industries,” the document said. It also points to broader concerns, including threats to democracy, wealth being concentrated in the hands of a few, and “bad actors” misusing technology.
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OpenAI proposes expanding what it calls the “care and connection economy,” roles in childcare, elder care, education, health care and community services, as new avenues for workers. It also proposes turning AI-driven efficiency gains into tangible benefits for employees.
This is where one of its most striking ideas comes in.
OpenAI suggests that governments and employers should “encourage employers and unions to run timed 32-hour/four-day workweek pilots without loss of pay that keep output and service levels constant.” If successful, these shorter weeks can become permanent or translate into more paid time off.
It’s an appealing vision: AI does more of the work, and people get more time back. But it rests on a big assumption – that these productivity gains actually translate into higher wages and not just higher profits.
Treasure the rich
The document from OpenAI also suggests a more fundamental shift needed in how economies are taxed. If artificial intelligence reduces the need for human labor, it argues, governments may have to rely less on taxing workers and more on taxing capital and the companies that benefit most from automation. In other words, if AI does more of the work, the companies that benefit from it may have to bear more of the burden.
One of the more radical proposals in the document is the idea of a public wealth fund. It is actually a way to redistribute the gains from AI across society. Instead of these profits sitting with a handful of companies, they could be pooled and returned to citizens, echoing models such as sovereign wealth funds.
The most striking thing about this document, however, is how OpenAI frames AI itself. This is no longer just about better chatbots or smarter tools. The document positions AI as something closer to infrastructure – a foundational layer that will underpin entire industries, economies and public services.
The future is bright
OpenAI argues that artificial intelligence can reshape the economy for the better, while detailing how easily it could concentrate wealth and power if left unchecked. History has told us that humans are generally bad at long-term planning, and it’s going to take a very different mentality than the one our political leaders currently embody to implement these ideas.
It’s also an unusual position for OpenAI to put itself in: the company building the AI technology is now helping to outline how AI should be taxed, regulated and redistributed. Whether that’s forward-thinking or independent will depend on who you ask, although the idea of a four-day work week would get my vote.
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