US should take 50% stake in major AI firms, says Bernie Sanders

With the market capitalization of AI companies soaring, US Senator Bernie Sanders is looking to give the American people a piece of the action.

The veteran senator for Vermont has introduced the American AI Sovereign Wealth Fund Bill, aiming to give the public a 50 percent ownership in the largest AI companies in the US. It’s a timely move with both OpenAI and Anthropic preparing for the imminent IPOs.

Sanders is not the only one pondering such a move. As the bill notes, OpenAI has proposed the creation of a “Public Wealth Fund” giving citizens a stake in “AI-driven economic growth,” while Anthropic has proposed a sovereign wealth fund to “shape the sector’s behavior.” President Trump’s advisors are also contemplating the possibility of the government grabbing a stake in major AI corporations, according to media reports.

Sovereign wealth funds are not a new idea: Many administrations across the world have implemented them, notably Norway which has about $2 trillion in its wealth fund.

Sanders’ proposal would give the public a direct ownership stake in the largest AI companies, but, he said, it wasn’t just about the wealth. “The foundation of AI is based on the collective knowledge of humanity and the creative work of tens of millions of people. The American people must have the ability to slow it down and make sure that AI benefits humanity, not just the richest people on the planet. That’s precisely what this legislation does,” he said.