Universal Basic Income as a Response to Automation? Attitudes of Human Translators Facing Neural Machine Translation

Abstract

How do professionals who may be at risk of job loss due to AI-driven automation view a universal basic income (UBI) as a policy response to technological unemployment? This article examines the attitudes of translators from Turkey, a country with the highest perceived technological risks across the OECD. Based on interviews, the article reveals varying views on UBI, the framings of which reflect participants’ political views and understandings of capitalist societies. While some participants depict a perspective of economic individualism, emphasizing individual responsibility and a work ethic in opposing UBI, others advocate an anti-capitalist outlook, promoting collective action yet appearing skeptical of UBI. However, a majority supports UBI as a social right. Furthermore, those concerned about job or wage loss are primarily found among those who favor UBI and those who specialize as freelancers in areas perceived as more susceptible to automation, suggesting that job insecurity shapes views of UBI.