This country is giving every citizen Rs 30,000 as AI drives its economy

Taiwan is planning to give every person NT$10,000 (around Rs 30,000) next year as its economy benefits from the global surge in AI. President Lai Ching-te said the proposed 2027 budget will include NT$235.7 billion (around US$7.4 billion) to fund the universal cash payment. Lai described the handout as a way of ensuring that the broader population gets a share of what he called the AI dividend. This comes as the government expects higher revenues to cover the payment while keeping the budget balanced and avoiding new borrowing.

Taiwan’s economy is booming on AI demand

As the AI industry exploded in the past few years, Taiwan has become one of the biggest beneficiaries of the rising revenue, thanks to strong demand for advanced chips, servers and computing equipment.

The economy expanded 14.15 percent in the first half of the year. The government has also raised its forecast for full-year economic growth in 2026 to 11.05 percent, which Lai said could represent Taiwan’s strongest growth in nearly four decades.

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Much of this momentum is coming from rising global demand for AI, high-performance computing and cloud services. Increased orders, exports and investment have benefited companies across Taiwan’s technology supply chain. However, the government says the gains have not reached everyone equally.

Why is Taiwan giving people Rs 30,000?

Lai also stated that millions of people work outside the technology sector, including in services, traditional industries, and small and medium-sized businesses. The one-time payment is intended to spread some of the benefits of the stronger economy beyond Taiwan’s booming technology sector.

Recipients will be able to decide how they use the money. The government has suggested spending on education, elderly care, household expenses and purchases from local businesses as possible uses. Taiwan has not yet announced the eligibility rules, payment mechanism or exact distribution date.

This is not the first time that the country has announced a cash payment. In 2025, the island announced a NT$10,000 cash payment under a special budget, partly to help households deal with US tariffs and inflation. That programme included Taiwanese citizens as well as certain foreign permanent residents and foreign spouses of Taiwanese citizens.