Bernie Sanders Proposes 50% Public Stake in AI Companies

Senator Bernie Sanders introduced the American AI Sovereign Wealth Fund Bill to redistribute wealth generated by artificial intelligence and prevent total corporate control of the technology. The proposal seeks to establish a sovereign wealth fund estimated at nearly $7 trillion by imposing a one-time 50% stock tax on AI companies with at least $200 million in annual AI sales, paid through the issuance of new stock.

The legislation would grant the public a 50% ownership stake in the largest AI firms. An independent seven-person commission, nominated by the president and confirmed by the Senate, would manage the fund to block harmful corporate decisions and influence policy. Sanders proposes using a 5% annual dividend to provide payments exceeding $1,000 to every American, with additional gains earmarked for healthcare, education, and housing.

Sanders argues the move is necessary because AI is built on collective human knowledge and risks causing mass job loss and privacy erosion. While he met with OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, he noted Altman was not enthusiastic about the plan. President Donald Trump has previously expressed interest in a U.S. sovereign wealth fund and government vetting of AI models, though Sanders has not yet spoken with him regarding this specific bill. The proposal arrives as firms like OpenAI and Anthropic prepare for initial public offerings.