AP Exclusive: Bernie Sanders unveils plan to give the public direct ownership of AI companies
AP Exclusive: Bernie Sanders unveils plan to give the public direct ownership of AI companies
Publish Date: 2026-06-17 16:00:00
Source Domain: www.wsls.com
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Proposal of Sovereign Wealth Fund: Sen. Bernie Sanders has introduced legislation to create a sovereign wealth fund, financed by a one-time 50% tax on the stock of the largest artificial intelligence (AI) companies, targeting those with over $200 million in annual AI sales.
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Public Ownership and Dividends: The funds generated would be managed by an independent commission and would make the American public a major shareholder in the largest AI companies. This, Sanders estimates, would result in a $7 trillion fund and provide a direct annual payment of over $1,000 to every American starting from a 5% annual dividend from the fund.
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Public Influence and Benefit Sharing: The legislation not only aims to create public wealth but also wants the public to have a say in corporate decisions that affect them. It intends to create programs funding health care, education, and housing using the fund’s earnings.
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Support from Diverse Figures: The idea of public stakes in AI has garnered interest from varied figures including President Donald Trump and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman. However, Sanders’ proposal is more extensive, calling for public ownership of half of the largest AI companies.
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Highlighting Wealth Inequality: Sanders emphasizes that AI benefits need to reach ordinary people rather than just enrich a few billionaires, with public opposition and concerns about AI’s job disruption growing.
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Activating Public Campaign Interest: Sanders plans to incorporate AI ownership and wealth inequality into his campaign strategy, aligning with other campaign messages addressing public concerns about technology and economic inequality.
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National Trends and Reactions: The legislative push comes amid growing public unease with the impacts of AI, reflected in reactions to data center projects, student sentiment, and broader campaigns addressing AI’s societal implications.
