Universal basic income offers people recurring cash payments, no strings attached.MoMo Productions / Getty ImagesUniversal basic income is gaining global traction, with over 100 cash payment pilots in the US.UBI and basic income aims to reduce poverty by giving people cash, no strings attached.Participants spend basic income on necessities, but critics argue it's costly and discourages work.Universal basic income has made giant strides from its origins as a utopian vision.While UBI has gained traction as an idea in recent years, its universal nature is still a difficult political sell.