U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders has introduced an ambitious proposal that would give Americans direct financial and governance stakes in major artificial intelligence companies, marking one of the most sweeping efforts yet to reshape how AI wealth is distributed in the United States.
The plan centers on the creation of a federally managed sovereign wealth fund designed to capture a portion of the rapidly growing value generated by the AI industry.
A Massive AI-Funded Public Wealth Fund
According to legislative details reviewed by The Associated Press, the proposal would impose a one-time 50% tax on stock issued by the largest AI firms once they reach $200 million in annual AI-related revenue.
The resulting assets would be placed into a government-managed sovereign wealth fund, which Sanders estimates could grow to nearly $7 trillion over time.
The fund would be overseen by an independent commission appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate. It would hold significant voting power in participating companies and be authorized to influence corporate decisions deemed harmful to the public interest.
Direct Payments and Public Benefits
A key feature of the plan includes a 5% annual dividend drawn from the fund, which Sanders says could provide direct payments exceeding $1,000 per American each year. Additional earnings would be directed toward public services such as healthcare, education, and housing programs.
Sanders argues that this model ensures the economic gains of artificial intelligence are broadly distributed rather than concentrated among a small group of technology executives and investors.
He also emphasized that taxpayers would not absorb losses if AI valuations decline, framing the proposal as a long-term public investment strategy rather than a traditional tax program.
Growing Debate Over AI Ownership
The proposal arrives amid increasing global debate over how to regulate and share the wealth generated by artificial intelligence, a sector experiencing explosive growth and valuation surges.
Similar ideas have been discussed in different forms by industry and political leaders, including U.S. President Donald Trump and executives such as OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, who have suggested limited public benefit mechanisms tied to AI development.
However, Sanders’ plan goes significantly further by calling for direct public ownership stakes and government influence over corporate governance decisions.
Support and Resistance Across Political Spectrum
The proposal reflects growing political attention to the impact of AI on jobs, wages, and economic inequality. Some lawmakers and tech leaders have shown openness to wealth-sharing models, while others warn that heavy taxation or public ownership could slow innovation and investment.
Competing tech firms such as Anthropic have also floated ideas like expanded social safety nets funded by AI-driven profits, highlighting a broader industry discussion about redistribution in an AI-dominated economy.
AI’s Economic Disruption at the Center of Debate
Concerns about automation and job displacement continue to shape public discourse, with surveys suggesting many students and workers view AI as a threat to future employment opportunities. At the same time, large-scale data center expansion and infrastructure demands have sparked local opposition in parts of the United States.
Sanders has framed his proposal as a response to what he calls growing economic inequality driven by emerging technologies, arguing that AI-generated wealth should benefit the public as a whole.
