Editors’ note: This is part of the Op-Eds From the Future series, in which science fiction authors, futurists, philosophers and scientists write Op-Eds that they imagine we might read 10, 20 or even 100 years from now. The challenges they predict are imaginary — for now — but their arguments illuminate the urgent questions of today and prepare us for tomorrow. The opinion piece below is a work of fiction.

The clash among protesters, autonomous drones and police officers at the March for American Dreams this past weekend should be a call to action for policymakers. Skeptics in the White House and Congress should accept the consensus among economists and technologists that artificial intelligence and robotics are reshaping our economy, rendering most Americans’ jobs precarious. We must assume that won’t change, and the government should guarantee all Americans a good standard of living, regardless of their ability to work.

The strong 3.4 percent G.D.P. growth the past year and the official unemployment rate of 4.6 percent hide the fact that many American families are struggling to stay afloat. Wage growth continues to stagnate. Nearly six in 10 employed adults work as contractors with no long-term job security or opportunities for advancement. Almost three in 10 adults of prime working age are not participating in the labor force at all and, therefore, are not counted in unemployment statistics.

The answer obviously isn’t to shut down technological progress. The tech revolution of the past three decades has led to enormous economic growth and introduced many affordable goods and services unimaginable 25 years ago. It has also demonstrated the potential to help mitigate climate change, improve health care and advance scientific research.