“Shaw Walters on AI and a Universal Basic Income” . This in-depth interview captures Shaw Walters, founder of ElizaOS, as a bold contrarian voice in the AI space, pushing back against the growing consensus that Universal Basic Income (UBI) is inevitable in an AI-driven future. Walters argues that UBI risks entrenching systemic inequality, politicization, and a deepening “crisis of meaning,” asserting instead that individual ownership—especially via crypto—offers a more empowering path forward. The sentiment is positive, with a critical eye toward top-down systems and an emphasis on decentralized, bottom-up solutions as a way to preserve human purpose, economic dignity, and resilience in the age of automation.
https://substack.com/home/post/p-165862126

Shaw Walters' perspective is truly impressive! It really hits home that simply handing out money (UBI) isn’t the real solution — the real issue is giving people empowerment, and restoring their sense of purpose and ownership. Crypto and decentralized systems genuinely offer a new model where people can shape their own future without relying on top-down control.

UBI might be a short-term relief, but if everything is handed over to the state, people’s creativity, ambition, and freedom could fade away. Walters’ approach is inspiring — it suggests that the response to automation shouldn’t just come from the system, but from smart use of technology and empowered communities.