I think it is great to study basic income. While many people think it will work, many others are worried people will become unmotiviated and this will have bad consequences. An alternative thing to also study is a workfare program that gives jobs to everyone.

As mentioned in other comments, the HN readers are very motivated people. Most people in general are not. Many people may not work and either become lazy (such that they can no longer work) or worse occupy their time with something counterproductively, such as in gangs. Even without basic income I know people who didn't work for a while and eventually they became helpless with regard to work.

Using computers we can provide work for all people. This can be something like accounting, project management, or something as basic as rating movies and video games. There is always more work to be done, it just might not be economically viable. Where needed, these non-economically viable jobs can be subsidized as a form of welfare.