A 5 % tax on every transaction performed by automated systems and AI agents would generate a dependable revenue stream, ensuring that those displaced or marginalized by rapid technological change receive a basic living standard. This common‑fund model keeps the burden on the productivity engine of the economy rather than the individual, creating a safety net that can lift the entire population above the poverty line. Moreover, by guaranteeing a minimal income, the policy would reduce social unrest, increase consumer purchasing power, and allow people to pursue creative ventures, thereby stimulating further innovation that an untouched labor market could not.  

Charging automated systems 5 % on each transaction likely imposes a disincentive for businesses to adopt AI at scale, potentially slowing the economic growth that the tax’s revenue were meant to support. The additional transactional cost would inevitably be passed on to consumers, eroding the very purchasing power the UBI aims to protect and possibly creating a cycle of rising prices and decreased consumption. Finally, instituting and monitoring a tax exclusively on AI activities would introduce substantial administrative complexity, require new regulatory frameworks, and risk exposing sensitive corporate data, thereby making the policy difficult to execute without significant overhead while attempting to safeguard employment.