As legion_miracle mentioned, many extraordinarily wealthy and/or well-known individuals are openly supporting UBI. While the early-adopters are forward-thinking and altruistic, other extremely wealthy individuals will eventually realize that an ever increasing wealth disparity between the ultra-rich and everyone else is not indefinitely sustainable. History has proven time and time again, that large numbers of people who are hungry, oppressed, exploited, and feel that they have nothing left to lose will eventually rebel. The rich are often targeted and their families attacked and forced to flee or are killed, and their homes looted and ransacked when those rebellions occur. From a practical standpoint, even those who currently despise the thought of “handouts” (UBI) - it is much easier to placate the masses with basic income than face future rebellions that may end in violent overthrow. In short, UBI helps keep people relatively happy, fed, clothed and housed, which in-turn allows the very rich to remain in power and enjoy their lifestyle without the threat of civil unrest.

Additionally, there are already small UBI experiments either underway or planned. The Finnish government randomly selected 2,000 unemployed Finns from across the country for a trial testing universal basic income. It started in January of 2017 and will run through the end of 2018. Many news outlets are tracking the successes and failures. I am confident that many other governments are closely watching as well.

If it can be shown that people can attain higher education, or start new businesses, or simply become less stressed or less prone to violence while receiving UBI then that will provide another big boost.  Challenges and growing pains will certainly arise out of the UBI movement, and adoption will come much sooner in some countries than in others, but when implemented correctly it seems the best solution for many of the people-related challenges we face globally.