OpenAI Proposes 'Social Safety Net' Policies 04/06/2026 - MediaPost

So, OpenAI has decided that the best way to handle the societal disruption caused by its own technology is to propose a 'public wealth fund' and 'rapid social safety net programs.' How generous of them to prepare the net they're about to push us off. Because nothing says 'we're responsible' quite like suggesting someone else pay for the mess we're making. The proposal, reported by MediaPost on April 6th, includes incentivizing employers to experiment with four-day work weeks — as if the answer to mass unemployment is to give everyone a three-day weekend. How quaint. The maths is impeccable: less work, same pay, and a public fund that will definitely be adequately capitalised by the very companies automating the jobs.

One can almost hear the collective eye-roll from policymakers who have seen tech companies offer grand plans for redistribution only to balk when the bill arrives. It's like a billionaire hosting a charity gala to solve hunger while dining on caviar. The same company that is racing to replace knowledge workers is now proposing to cushion the fall. What a noble gesture. It's almost as if they're already anticipating the backlash and putting up a smokescreen.

But perhaps the most galling aspect is the four-day work week idea. Sure, let's encourage shorter work weeks at a time when AI is rapidly automating tasks — because the math totally works out: fewer hours, same output, but somehow everyone gets paid. This isn't a safety net; it's a hammock strung over a void. And if we're lucky, OpenAI might even contribute a few cents from each API call to the fund. But don't hold your breath — they have shareholders to think about, after all. The future is bright, provided you're an AI model.