Bernie Sanders Proposes Public Ownership of Major AI Companies via a Sovereign Wealth Fund

Senator Bernie Sanders introduced legislation that would impose a one-time 50 % tax on the stock of AI firms whose annual AI sales exceed $200 million. The tax would transfer ownership shares to a newly created sovereign wealth fund, estimated by Sanders to be worth roughly $7 trillion. A seven-person independent commission, nominated by the president and confirmed by the Senate, would manage the fund and use its voting shares to block corporate actions deemed harmful to the public. The bill calls for a 5 % annual dividend, projected to deliver more than $1,000 in direct payments to each American and to fund programs in health care, education, and housing. Sanders asserts that investors would not bear losses if AI company valuations decline.

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Sanders emphasized that the plan aims to shift wealth from a handful of multi-billionaires to the broader populace, arguing that “the fund would be managed to block decisions that hurt the American people and to push for policies that help them.” He positioned the proposal as a “major step forward” from existing private control of AI. Former President Donald Trump, who recently signed an order for voluntary government vetting of new AI models, expressed interest in a partnership model, noting that government ownership could “become a partnership with the American public.” OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has advocated for a public wealth fund that gives every citizen a stake in AI-driven growth, while Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei suggested that universal basic income could be financed through taxes on relevant companies. Other Democratic candidates, including Michigan Senate hopeful Mallory McMorrow and New York House candidate Alex Bores, have incorporated AI-related protections into their campaign platforms.

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Local residents have opposed new data-center projects, citing concerns over electricity demand, water consumption, and environmental impact. States such as Ohio and Virginia, previously eager to attract AI facilities, are reconsidering tax incentives. On college campuses, AI discussions have provoked boos, and a 2025 Harvard Kennedy School poll found that 70 % of students view AI as a threat to future employment. Critics argue that the proposal may be overly aggressive and could disrupt market dynamics without clear safeguards.

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The $7 trillion fund estimate relies solely on Sanders’ calculations; independent financial analyses are absent. The legislation does not specify how many companies currently meet the $200 million AI-sales threshold, nor does it detail the exact process for selecting commission members beyond presidential nomination and Senate confirmation. Additionally, the mechanism for maintaining dividend payouts if AI valuations fall remains unclear.

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• “The benefits cannot simply go to the handful of wealthy corporations. They will be shared by the American people,” — Bernie Sanders, U.S. Senator

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• “The public has got to have a significant seat at the table to make sure that terrible things do not happen to ordinary people, and that in fact, AI benefits ordinary people, not hurts them,” — Bernie Sanders, U.S. Senator

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• “We’re not going to lose any money, even if there is a bust in the bubble,” — Bernie Sanders, U.S. Senator

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• “there’s something very interesting about it, where it almost becomes a partnership with the American public.” — Donald Trump, Former President

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• “create a public wealth fund that provides every citizen — including those not invested in financial markets — with a stake in AI-driven economic growth.” — Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI

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• “universal basic income could be financed through taxes on relevant companies.” — Dario Amodei, CEO of Anthropic

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The proposal is slated for introduction in Congress, where it will face committee hearings and potential amendments. As the 2026 midterm elections approach, candidates are expected to reference the plan in campaign messaging. State and local debates over data-center incentives are likely to intensify, while public opinion polls will track voter reaction to the prospect of direct AI ownership.

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