Lai Ching-te Proposes NT$10,000 AI Bonus as Su Chiao-hui Urges Universal Benefits

President Lai Ching-te visited the Xinzhuang Ciyou Temple today (the 24th). Following the worship ceremony, he announced to the crowd and media on-site that a new wave of the "AI Dividend" policy will be rolled out nationwide. The specific approach involves distributing a universal cash amount of NT$10,000 to allow citizens to benefit directly. This move not only represents a concrete implementation of the government's deployment in the artificial intelligence industry, but also utilizes cash subsidies to enhance public acceptance and a sense of participation in emerging technologies. President Lai specifically pointed out that this decision stemmed directly from a proposal by Su Chiao-hui, the Democratic Progressive Party's (DPP) candidate for New Taipei City Mayor. During a previous meeting, Su proactively explained to the President that financial incentives could quickly increase the popularization of AI-related education and applications while promoting local industrial upgrading.

Su Chiao-hui has long projected a pragmatic and innovative image within the DPP. For her mayoral campaign in New Taipei City, she has centered her platform on a "smart city" theme, proposing multiple urban governance solutions that integrate AI technology, including smart transportation, digital health, and public safety. In her discussion with President Lai, she emphasized that piloting the distribution of the AI Dividend would help verify the policy's effectiveness and lay the foundation for future nationwide promotion. Party insiders revealed that Su's proposal received an immediate response during the meeting, and President Lai subsequently instructed relevant departments to initiate budget review and execution procedures, demonstrating an open attitude at the administrative level toward suggestions from local politicians.

The concept of this AI Dividend was first raised at the Executive Yuan's Science and Technology Advisory Conference last year. It is part of the government's strategy to promote an "AI Nation," aimed at encouraging businesses and citizens to invest in AI research, development, and learning through financial subsidies. Past similar universal distribution policies, such as the "Stimulus Four-Times Vouchers" and "Youth Entrepreneurship Subsidies," were all aimed at boosting domestic demand and innovative vitality. The difference is that the AI Dividend focuses on the popularization of technology, with the expectation of building a user base in the short term, which will in turn generate data and demand, providing the industrial chain with more concrete market signals. The Ministry of Finance has stated that the distributed NT$10,000 will be included in a special budget and disbursed from the "Smart Economy" special fund, with nationwide distribution expected to be completed before the end of the year.

On the political front, this move is also seen as a strategic deployment by the DPP ahead of the local elections. As Taiwan's largest metropolitan area, New Taipei City's electoral race has always been a focal point fiercely contested by all political parties. Su Chiao-hui's active lobbying for the policy not only demonstrates her concern for local development, but also helps elevate her image among voters, particularly given young demographics' high level of attention toward AI issues. President Lai's public endorsement of Su's candidacy on-site also reflects the party center's trust and support for her, thereby consolidating intra-party resources to form a policy advantage that opponents will find difficult to rival.

Overall, the distribution of the AI Dividend is not merely an economic stimulus measure, but also a symbol of the government's push for digital transformation. If, as Su Chiao-hui hopes, the actual cash amount sparks public use and learning of AI technology, it could generate positive effects on industrial upgrading, labor market structural adjustments, and the enhancement of international competitiveness in the future. Observers note that the effectiveness of this policy will become a crucial indicator for whether the government will continue to invest in AI-related subsidies, and will also test whether the DPP's strategy of winning local elections through policy-driven approaches is successful. (Source of facts: Central News Agency)