'We're subsidizing a technology that will replace millions': Andrew Yang on calling for AI tax

Andrew Yang argues that AI is currently subsidized because companies avoid payroll taxes and worker costs when they use AI instead of hiring humans, accelerating labor displacement. He calls for a token or FICA tax on AI, with proceeds distributed directly to consumers. He cites Verizon call-center bots outperforming humans and $3 trillion of AI spending as signs that millions of jobs are at risk. - Yang calls for taxing AI tokens or applying FICA to AI rather than taxing workers. - He says AI is subsidized relative to human labor because AI use avoids payroll taxes and benefits. - He argues $3 trillion of AI spending will inevitably displace millions of workers. - He highlights 2.9 million US call center workers and a Verizon study showing bots outperform humans. - He wants AI tax revenue distributed directly to consumers as checks. - He says retraining has failed, pointing to coal miners not becoming coders.