Shane Smith Has Questions

Can AI Save America’s Broken Political System? ft. Andrew Yang | Shane Has Questions

Nov 20, 2025
Join Andrew Yang, entrepreneur and founder of the Forward Party, as he dives into the collision of AI with America's outdated political landscape. Yang reflects on his 2020 presidential run, where he warned about automation's impact on jobs. He discusses UBI and the need for a revised 'Freedom Dividend' that values care and creativity beyond mere dollars. Highlighting the necessity of human-centered policies, Yang envisions a future with independent leadership and the potential of new economic models amidst rising automation.
Ask episode
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
INSIGHT

AI Will Reshape Work And Value

  • AI and automation will eliminate vast swaths of both blue- and white-collar jobs, forcing systemic economic change.
  • We must design a human-centered economy that rewards care, art, health, and community, not just labor measured by capital efficiency.
ANECDOTE

Called 'Magical Asian Man From The Future'

  • Andrew Yang recalled being called a "magical Asian man from the future" while warning truckers in Iowa about automation.
  • That early ridicule later felt like vindication as self-driving and AI advances proved the threat real.
ADVICE

Start With A Cash Floor, Then Build Purpose

  • Create a financial floor for everyone as a foundation, then layer programs that create meaningful work-like opportunities.
  • Build new reward systems (arts, wellness, caregiving currencies) so people find purpose beyond dollar wages.
Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode
Get the app