Fearing Mass A.I. Layoffs, Some in Congress Eye Ways to Aid Workers

The rapid rise of artificial intelligence has stoked fears that powerful computers might someday replace humans, leaving millions of Americans out of work and without a steady income.

It’s a doomsday scenario, one that could potentially overwhelm the government’s ability to care for the swelling ranks of the unemployed. And the mere risk has caught the attention of Congress, where lawmakers are starting to explore ways to bolster the nation’s economic safety net before it is too late.

In recent months, Democrats and Republicans have unfurled a series of bills that aim to offset the potential job losses posed by the advent of A.I. The ideas may differ in scope and cost, but together they reflect a widening trepidation in Washington that the government has fallen behind in preparing for vast technological change.

The latest proposal is set to arrive this week: a bill from Democrats including Senator Ron Wyden of Oregon, who leads his party on the chamber’s chief tax-writing committee, that would greatly expand the nation’s unemployment insurance program.

Article source: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/10/23/business/ai-jobs-layoffs-congress.html