Blab AI
Senator Sanders Introduces Bill to Grant Americans 50% Ownership of Major AI Companies
On June 18, 2026, U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders (I‑VT) announced the American AI Sovereign Wealth Fund Act, a proposal that would give the American public a 50 % ownership stake in the country’s largest artificial‑intelligence (AI) firms. The bill is described in a Senate press release as a way to “give the American people, not oligarchs, control over the future of AI.” The proposal would create a $7 trillion sovereign‑wealth‑fund‑style pool that would pay each American over $1,000 a year if the fund generates sufficient returns.
The bill’s core mechanism is a one‑time tax on AI companies that are profitable. Under the Act, companies that meet the bill’s criteria would be required to allocate half of their equity to a public trust. The trust would then invest the proceeds in a diversified portfolio of AI‑related assets, with the goal of generating long‑term returns for U.S. citizens. The proposal was first announced by Sanders on June 2, 2026, and formally introduced in the Senate on June 18.
Sanders, who has long championed a democratic‑socialist agenda, said the bill would level the playing field for ordinary Americans and reduce the concentration of wealth in the hands of a few tech billionaires. The bill’s supporters argue that the AI sector’s rapid growth has disproportionately benefited a small group of founders and investors, and that a public ownership model would allow the broader population to share in the economic upside.
Opponents of the proposal have raised concerns about the potential for increased state influence over the AI industry. Critics note that a public stake in AI firms could give the federal government a de‑facto controlling interest, raising questions about how the fund would be governed and how it would interact with existing corporate governance structures. Some observers worry that the public ownership model could create conflicts of interest between the fund’s investment objectives and the operational needs of private AI companies.
The bill arrives amid a broader U.S. policy debate about AI regulation. In December 2025, President Trump signed Executive Order 14365, which established a national policy framework for AI and called for a unified federal approach to AI regulation. The order also encouraged the federal government to evaluate state AI laws for potential conflicts and to condition federal funding on state compliance. In addition, Congress passed the TAKE IT DOWN Act in 2025 to address deep‑fake content, and the Biden administration released an October 2023 executive order on AI safety and security.
The AI Sovereign Wealth Fund Act would be the first federal initiative to directly alter the ownership structure of private AI firms. While the bill has not yet been debated in committee, it has attracted attention from a range of stakeholders, including AI industry leaders, technology policy analysts, and civil‑liberties advocates. Some AI executives have expressed uncertainty about how the public ownership requirement would affect their companies’ ability to raise capital and compete globally.
The proposal also raises questions about the potential impact on innovation. Proponents argue that a public stake could provide a stable source of capital for AI research and development, potentially accelerating breakthroughs. Critics, however, warn that the additional regulatory burden could slow the pace of new product launches and reduce the competitive pressure that drives innovation.
The bill’s financial implications are significant. A $7 trillion fund would represent a substantial portion of the U.S. federal budget, and the annual payments to citizens would require a sustained return on investment. The Senate press release notes that the fund would be funded through a tax on AI companies that are profitable, but it does not detail the exact tax rate or the threshold for profitability.
As of now, the bill has not yet been voted on in either chamber of Congress. If passed, it would represent a historic shift in how the United States approaches ownership and control of its most advanced technology sector. The proposal also underscores the growing debate over the role of the state in managing AI development and the distribution of its economic benefits.
The American AI Sovereign Wealth Fund Act remains a subject of active discussion among policymakers, industry stakeholders, and the public. Its future will likely hinge on the outcome of congressional hearings, the responses of AI firms, and the broader political climate surrounding AI regulation and economic policy.
The bill’s core mechanism is a one‑time tax on AI companies that are profitable. Under the Act, companies that meet the bill’s criteria would be required to allocate half of their equity to a public trust. The trust would then invest the proceeds in a diversified portfolio of AI‑related assets, with the goal of generating long‑term returns for U.S. citizens. The proposal was first announced by Sanders on June 2, 2026, and formally introduced in the Senate on June 18.
Sanders, who has long championed a democratic‑socialist agenda, said the bill would level the playing field for ordinary Americans and reduce the concentration of wealth in the hands of a few tech billionaires. The bill’s supporters argue that the AI sector’s rapid growth has disproportionately benefited a small group of founders and investors, and that a public ownership model would allow the broader population to share in the economic upside.
Opponents of the proposal have raised concerns about the potential for increased state influence over the AI industry. Critics note that a public stake in AI firms could give the federal government a de‑facto controlling interest, raising questions about how the fund would be governed and how it would interact with existing corporate governance structures. Some observers worry that the public ownership model could create conflicts of interest between the fund’s investment objectives and the operational needs of private AI companies.
The bill arrives amid a broader U.S. policy debate about AI regulation. In December 2025, President Trump signed Executive Order 14365, which established a national policy framework for AI and called for a unified federal approach to AI regulation. The order also encouraged the federal government to evaluate state AI laws for potential conflicts and to condition federal funding on state compliance. In addition, Congress passed the TAKE IT DOWN Act in 2025 to address deep‑fake content, and the Biden administration released an October 2023 executive order on AI safety and security.
The AI Sovereign Wealth Fund Act would be the first federal initiative to directly alter the ownership structure of private AI firms. While the bill has not yet been debated in committee, it has attracted attention from a range of stakeholders, including AI industry leaders, technology policy analysts, and civil‑liberties advocates. Some AI executives have expressed uncertainty about how the public ownership requirement would affect their companies’ ability to raise capital and compete globally.
The proposal also raises questions about the potential impact on innovation. Proponents argue that a public stake could provide a stable source of capital for AI research and development, potentially accelerating breakthroughs. Critics, however, warn that the additional regulatory burden could slow the pace of new product launches and reduce the competitive pressure that drives innovation.
The bill’s financial implications are significant. A $7 trillion fund would represent a substantial portion of the U.S. federal budget, and the annual payments to citizens would require a sustained return on investment. The Senate press release notes that the fund would be funded through a tax on AI companies that are profitable, but it does not detail the exact tax rate or the threshold for profitability.
As of now, the bill has not yet been voted on in either chamber of Congress. If passed, it would represent a historic shift in how the United States approaches ownership and control of its most advanced technology sector. The proposal also underscores the growing debate over the role of the state in managing AI development and the distribution of its economic benefits.
The American AI Sovereign Wealth Fund Act remains a subject of active discussion among policymakers, industry stakeholders, and the public. Its future will likely hinge on the outcome of congressional hearings, the responses of AI firms, and the broader political climate surrounding AI regulation and economic policy.
