Twitter chief executive Jack Dorsey has become the first investor in a radical plan to give people a basic income, regardless of job status.
He has donated $3m (£2.4m) to the scheme, which is being piloted by the mayors of 16 US cities.
He said it was "one tool to close the wealth and income gap".
The idea of governments paying a basic income to citizens has gained momentum in response to the threat to jobs from artificial intelligence.
The premise of universal basic income (UBI) is that every individual in a country will receive a cash payment at regular intervals, without any requirement to work or qualify for it. The payment would be given to every citizen, regardless of wealth or employment status.
The US scheme, dubbed Mayors for a Guaranteed Income, is a version of this which would offer a recurring payment, but only to "some" residents.
On its website, it is not made explicit who will receive payments but it talks of the need to address poverty, particularly in the light of the coronavirus pandemic.
"Covid-19 has only further exposed the economic fragility of most American households and has disproportionately impacted black and brown people," it says.
"Mayors will come together in this network to advocate for a guaranteed income - direct, reccuring cash payments - that lifts all of our communities, building a resilient, just America."
There are no firm proposals for how money would be allocated, or for how long the scheme would last.
Mr Dorsey tweeted: "This is one tool to close the wealth and income gap, level systemic race and gender inequalities and create economic security for families".
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