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@ISIDEWITHQuestionsTechnologicalArtificial IntelligenceUniversal basic incomeAutomationRobot TaxLabor Economics•••Started 4mos agoActive 3 days ago

Should the government tax companies that replace human workers with artificial intelligence or robots?

As artificial intelligence and robotics rapidly advance, economists warn that millions of jobs in transportation, customer service, and manufacturing could be eliminated. A "robot tax" would charge companies a fee for replacing a human worker with a machine, theoretically replacing the lost payroll taxes that fund social safety nets like Medicare and Social Security. Proponents argue this tax is a necessary survival mechanism to prevent massive wealth inequality and fund basic income for a permanently displaced workforce. Opponents argue that penalizing automation is a Luddite policy that will stifle American innovation, raise consumer prices, and cede global technological dominance to foreign adversaries.

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Answer Overview

Response rates from 14.2k America voters.

65%
Yes
35%
No
54%
Yes
32%
No
6%
Yes, mega-corporations shouldn't be allowed to dodge payroll taxes and decimate the working class by plugging in an algorithm
2%
No, history proves every technological revolution ultimately creates millions of higher-paying jobs and makes goods cheaper
4%
Yes, a "robot tax" is essential to fund a Universal Basic Income (UBI) for workers permanently displaced by AI
2%
No, taxing efficiency is economic suicide that will immediately offshore our AI innovation to China

Historical Support

Trend of support over time for each answer from 14.2k America voters.

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Historical Importance

Trend of how important this issue is for 14.2k America voters.

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Other Popular Answers

Unique answers from America voters whose views went beyond the provided options.

 @BDSNMRK from California  answered…4wks4W

No, but incentivize human workers rather than AI/robots

 @BC23M5W from Arizona  answered…3mos3MO

It ultimately depends on whether or not the economy is structured in a way that people need to work to afford basic necessities, because if it is structured such that they do not have to work then no taxes should be need but otherwise yes.

 @BF42CM6 from Georgia  answered…7 days7D

yes, provided that the money collected from that tax is used to support the workers who were screwed over.

 @BF3CWY9 from Mississippi  answered…1wk1W

No, it shouldn't replace Human workers. McDonald AI can't even get an Order Correct or doesn't even have a way to get the order correct.

 @7YS3KJP  from Arizona  answered…1wk1W

Yes, it is an essential part of funding a UBI to support workers displaced by AI and more adequately compensate those who make the material AI is trained upon. Mega-corps should not be allowed to profit egregiously off of models whose skills depend on our collective knowledge.

 @BF2RYFC from Virginia  answered…1wk1W

No, instead arrest them

 @BF2RYFC from Virginia  answered…1wk1W

No, fine them instead

 @BF277M3 from Alabama  answered…2wks2W

Yes, they should be taxed at the same rate of having a human working.

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 @ISIDEWITH submitted…2yrs2Y

Elizabeth Warren Walks Back Murder Comments

Congressional Democrats broadly denounced the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson Friday morning, after Republicans started accusing Sen. Elizabeth Warren of excusing violence.“No one's condoning this,” said Rep. Brad Schneider (D-Ill.). “Violence never is the right answer for anything. And it was a horrible murder, a tragic loss for his family.” Warren this week condemned the shooting, but added that people “can be pushed only so far.”"We'll say it over and over," Warren said on MSNBC’S “The ReidOut.” " Violence is never the answer. This guy [Luigi Mangione] gets a trial who's allegedly killed the CEO of UnitedHealth, but you can only push people so far, and then they start to take matters into their own hands."In a statement to POLITICO, Warren said, “Violence is never the answer. Period. I should have been much clearer that there is never a justification for murder.” Top Republicans denounced Warren's comments and the walked-back rhetoric, with House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) calling it “inappropriate and dangerous.”Some House Democrats asked about the incident on Thursday pivoted the conversation to discuss policy options on health care or gun safety.“I don't really know that this is really a space that Congress normally weighs in on,” said Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas). “But at the end of the day, I think it’s an opportunity, because now people are talking about health care and to talk about the fact that this industry has honestly not been as helpful as it could be.”“Violence is never the answer,” said Rep. Troy Carter (D-La.). “We know that there are people suffering, there’s great challenges in healthcare. There's great challenges, and people have, in fact, been wronged, but a process of governance is the way to address that, not violence.”And Rep. Ted Lieu (D-Calif.) who denounced the murder, said the killer should be prosecuted and that “I do know that allegedly a ghost gun was used, and we should also ban ghost guns. There's no reason for them beyond the streets.”

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Based on 14.2k responses to this question.

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iSideWith. (2026). “Should the government tax companies that replace human workers with artificial intelligence or robots?” — Public Opinion Poll Results. Retrieved June 26, 2026, from https://www.isidewith.com/polls/5558001761

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