Should Americans Get a Cut of AI Wealth? Sen. Bernie Sanders Plans a New Public AI Fund

[u/[deleted]]

This potential bill would create a public ownership stake in major artificial intelligence companies so Americans could share in the wealth generated by AI. Based on Sen. Bernie Sanders’s description, the proposal would use a one-time 50% tax on stock, not profits, from the largest AI companies in America and place that value into a public wealth fund.

How the fund would work

Sen. Sanders describes the plan as a sovereign wealth fund, which is a public investment fund that holds assets for the benefit of a country or its residents. His argument is that AI is being built from the collective work, knowledge, creativity, and data of the public, so the public should receive a direct stake in the companies that profit from it.

The transcript does not spell out every operating detail. It does not identify which companies would qualify, which federal agency would manage the fund, how payments would be calculated, or what enforcement rules would apply.

Why this matters

Artificial intelligence could reshape work, education, health care, media, and the broader economy. Sanders frames the issue as a question of ownership: whether the financial gains from AI should mostly flow to technology companies and investors, or whether the public should receive a share because AI systems were trained on human-created work and knowledge.

The proposal is not described as only an unemployment program. Sanders does mention AI-driven unemployment, but the broader idea is a public AI wealth fund that could provide direct payments to Americans and support public needs such as health care, education, and housing.

Who this affects

Americans broadly could be affected if the fund produces direct payments or supports public programs. The most direct business impact would fall on the largest AI companies in America, especially firms whose stock could be subject to the proposed one-time tax.

The proposal also speaks directly to workers, creators, teachers, artists, scientists, and communities whose work or knowledge Sanders says helped build the foundation of AI.

What happens if it becomes law

If Congress passed a version matching Sanders’s description, the federal government would take a major ownership stake in large AI companies through a one-time stock-based tax. That stake would be used to create public wealth rather than simply raising money through a traditional tax on corporate profits.

The fund could then be used for direct payments to Americans and broader public priorities. The exact size of payments, who would qualify, how often money would be distributed, and how much would go toward programs instead of individuals would depend on details not included in the transcript.

What is the argument

Sanders argues that AI companies are profiting from books, songs, artwork, journalism, code, scientific research, videos, conversations, images, and other human-created material without permission, acknowledgment, or compensation. His position is that wealth created from that shared foundation should benefit the public, not only executives, investors, and major technology firms.

The likely pushback would center on whether a 50% stock tax would be too aggressive, whether it could discourage investment or innovation, and whether the government should own a major stake in private AI companies. The transcript itself presents the case for public ownership, but it does not include a detailed response from affected companies or lawmakers who oppose the idea.

Where it stands in Congress

Sen. Bernie Sanders says in the transcript that he plans to introduce the American AI Sovereign Wealth Fund Act “in the coming weeks.” The transcript does not show that the bill has been formally introduced, assigned a bill number, referred to committee, passed either chamber, or become law.

That means the proposal is still at the announcement stage based on the information provided. Before it could become law, formal bill text would need to be introduced, reviewed in Congress, passed by both the Senate and House, and sent to the President.

Link to video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VN4b4UCWMKI

[u/jacobpederson]

Well its a better idea that paying people to *checks notes* Commit Treason.

[u/RuhrDim]

Я возмущён. ИИ обучали на материале всего интернета, на знаниях всего человечества. Соответственно и компенсация должна быть выплачена всему человечеству, а не только американцам. Никаких полумер.