UBI is Here! (Universal Basic Interns)

Posted on September 10th, 2025.

How to stop prompting and start collaborating

Everyone's talking about Universal Basic Income as the solution to AI disruption. The idea is that as AI takes over more jobs, we'll need to give everyone money to survive.

But what if I told you there's a different kind of UBI that's already here? One that doesn't require government programs or waiting for policy changes?

I'm talking about Universal Basic Interns.

A few months ago, I came across a tweet from Beff Jezos that perfectly captured how I've been using and thinking about AI:

That single line crystallized an approach I'd been developing and gave me the words to share it with others.

Stop Thinking Black Box, Start Thinking Team Member

Here's the problem: most people approach AI like it's some mystical black box that either works or doesn't. Almost like they're casting a spell. They type a prompt, cross their fingers, and hope for magic. But that's not how you'd work with a human colleague, right?

Instead, imagine you just hired your first intern. They're:

• Fresh and eager to help
• Need clear guidance
• Get better with feedback

That's exactly what AI is, except this intern never sleeps, never gets tired, and scales infinitely.

Talk to Your AI Like a Human

I've developed a simple four-step process that's transformed how I work with AI tools. It's based on one key insight: use the communication skills you already have.

Step 1: Use Your Voice

Ditch the keyboard. Use voice-to-text (WhisprFlow, SuperWhisper, Monologue, whatever works for you) and literally talk to your AI like you're on a Zoom call with a colleague.

"Hey, I want you to help me write a project proposal for the new customer onboarding system. We're trying to get buy-in from the leadership team, but they concerns around the budget."

See how natural that feels? You're not crafting the perfect prompt, you're just talking.

Step 2: The Magic Sentence

Here's the game-changer. At the end of your initial request, always add this phrase:

"Before you start working on this, ask me any clarifying questions you need to do this well."

This single sentence transforms your interaction. Instead of the AI guessing what you want, it becomes a collaborative partner asking smart questions.

Step 3: Play the Questions Game

The AI will come back with 5-10 thoughtful questions. Copy them into your favorite notes app, then use voice-to-text to rapid-fire your answers. Don't worry about perfect phrasing or grammar, just stream-of-consciousness dump everything in your head.

For that project proposal example, the questions might be:

• What specific pain points does the current onboarding process have?
• Who are the key stakeholders we need to convince?
• What's the proposed timeline and budget?
• What metrics will we use to measure success?
• Are there any technical constraints we should consider?

Answer them like you're chatting with a colleague: "The current process takes forever, Sarah from customer success is always complaining about it, budget is probably around $100K but if we outsource development we could probably do it for less, and we need to show ROI within six months..."

Step 4: Iterate Like You Would With Any Team Member

Once you get the first draft, give feedback exactly like you would to a human colleague:

• "That's good, but can you make it more technical for the engineering audience?"
• "The tone is too formal. These are people I grab coffee with"
• "Can you rework the introduction? I want it to highlight our cost savings..."

Why This Actually Works

This approach works because it leverages skills you already have. You know how to:

• Communicate requirements to team members
• Ask follow-up questions
• Give constructive feedback
• Iterate on ideas together

The framework removes the intimidation factor of AI and makes it feel like what it actually is: an incredibly capable team member who happens to be artificial.

Real Results

Since adopting this approach, I've seen:

Faster first drafts: Instead of spending 20 minutes crafting the perfect prompt, I spend 2 minutes talking through what I need.

Better outputs: The clarifying questions force me to think through requirements I wouldn't have considered.

Natural workflow integration: It feels like collaborating, not using a tool.

Higher quality through iteration: Just like with human colleagues, the best work comes from back-and-forth refinement.

Bonus benefit: Over time, you start to internalize the types of clarifying questions it asks, which improves your ability to provide adequate context in your initial requests. You're essentially training yourself to become a better communicator (and prompter!).

The Bottom Line

Everyone can have an intern. Nobody has to get budget approval. The tools are here, they're getting better every day, and the only thing standing between you and dramatically improved productivity is changing how you think about the interaction.

Stop treating AI like a search engine. Start treating it like your newest, most eager team member. The future of work isn't about humans versus machines. It's about humans with machines, working together in ways that feel surprisingly... human.

Welcome to the age of Universal Basic Interns. Your first hire is ready whenever you are.