Sanders Proposes $7 Trillion AI Wealth Fund With $1,000 Payouts

Sen. Bernie Sanders has introduced legislation that would establish a sovereign wealth fund by taxing major AI companies, then distribute annual payments of approximately $1,000 to every American. The proposal, unveiled Thursday, represents one of the most concrete policy frameworks yet for public ownership of artificial intelligence technology.

Under the plan, leading AI companies would face a one-time 50 percent stock tax that would capitalize the fund at an estimated $7 trillion, according to Sanders's office. A 5 percent annual dividend from that fund would generate the cash for universal payments.

How the fund would operate

The sovereign wealth fund would be managed by a seven-person independent commission, with members nominated by the president from a congressional list and confirmed by the Senate. These commissioners would hold seats on the boards of companies included in the fund, giving the public direct representation in AI governance.

New AI companies would be swept into the fund once they reach certain size thresholds, such as $200 million in annual revenue. The legislation's summary argues that AI's "massive explosion of wealth and power is directly built on our collective human output," yet current structures concentrate control among a small number of billionaires.

Why it matters

The proposal signals growing bipartisan anxiety about AI exacerbating economic inequality, even as the technology remains largely unregulated. President Trump said earlier this month he is considering government stakes in leading AI companies, though his administration has provided no details. When a progressive senator and a Republican president converge on similar ideas, it suggests genuine political momentum around wealth distribution from AI — regardless of whether this specific bill advances.

Public sentiment supports such concerns. A Pew Research Center survey released Wednesday found that most Americans believe AI is advancing too quickly, don't trust the government to regulate it effectively, and lack confidence in the companies developing the technology.

Industry response remains mixed

ChatGPT maker OpenAI and Anthropic, which develops the Claude chatbot, have both floated their own concepts for giving Americans a stake in their growth. However, other major players have been less receptive. Microsoft President Brad Smith said in an interview this week that the company is "not really interested in selling ourselves to any government."

TechNet, a trade association representing Google, OpenAI, and Anthropic among others, suggested that job creation from AI would be more effective at building public trust than ownership structures. CEO Linda Moore emphasized workforce development policies and AI development guidelines as the organization's congressional priorities.

Even some AI regulation skeptics have shown interest in the broader concept. David Sacks, former AI and crypto czar in the Trump administration, called Sanders's specific proposal a "straight up confiscation of property" but said he could support voluntary public ownership arrangements.

The legislation faces long odds in a Republican-controlled Congress, but its introduction marks a significant moment in the debate over who will benefit from AI's economic transformation.

These details were first reported by The Washington Post.