The American public is split on the prospect of giving a universal basic income to Americans who lose their jobs to artificial intelligence, according to a new poll.

In a Gallup and Northeastern University poll released Monday, 48 percent of those surveyed said they would support a universal basic income (UBI) compared to 52 percent who said they would oppose it.

There was a large difference in responses based on respondents' political identification.

ADVERTISEMENT

Of respondents who said they are Democrats, 65 percent said they would support UBI, while only 28 percent of Republicans said they would support the measure.

Support for UBI also varies by gender, age and education levels.

Of the men surveyed, 43 percent would support the UBI while 52 percent of women polled said they would back it.

Younger Americans, aged 18-35, are most likely to support UBI, at 54 percent, while only 38 percent of respondents 66 and older supported UBI.

Those with bachelor's degrees are more likely to support it, at 51 percent, than those without, at 42 percent.

While many Americans are divided on UBI as an answer to the potential economic harms of automation, they are more in step with who would have to pay for UBI measures if enacted.

Forty-six percent of those polled said they would be willing to pay higher taxes to fund UBI.

Those polled, however, expressed overwhelming support for companies paying this type of “robot tax,” with 80 percent saying that companies benefitting most from the AI should help cover the cost of a hypothetical UBI.

UBI, which only several years ago was floated as a fringe idea, has gained increased support as the potential for job displacement becomes more real with the proliferation of AI.

Technology CEOs like Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg Mark Elliot ZuckerbergHillicon Valley: Trump's ban on TikTok, WeChat in spotlight | NASA targeted by foreign hackers | Instagram accused of spying in lawsuit The Hill's Morning Report - Sponsored by The Air Line Pilots Association - Trump contradicts CDC director on vaccine, masks Hillicon Valley: DOJ indicts Chinese, Malaysian hackers accused of targeting over 100 organizations | GOP senators raise concerns over Oracle-TikTok deal | QAnon awareness jumps in new poll MORE and Salesforce’s Marc Benioff have argued that a UBI could be useful.

Bill Gates has specifically argued for a “robot tax” on companies who replace human workers with AI.

Major politicians like former Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton Hillary Diane Rodham ClintonBiden leads Trump by 36 points nationally among Latinos: poll Democratic super PAC to hit Trump in battleground states over coronavirus deaths Battle lines drawn on precedent in Supreme Court fight MORE and Sen. Bernie Sanders Bernie SandersNYT editorial board remembers Ginsburg: She 'will forever have two legacies' Two GOP governors urge Republicans to hold off on Supreme Court nominee Sanders knocks McConnell: He's going against Ginsburg's 'dying wishes' MORE (I-Vt.) have expressed interest in the policy.