Senator Bernie Sanders rolled out a sweeping proposal on Capitol Hill that would reshape the economics of the U.S. artificial‑intelligence sector. The bill calls for a one‑time 50 percent tax on the stock of the nation’s biggest AI firms, targeting any company that posts $200 million in annual AI sales. Sanders estimates the levy would generate a sovereign wealth fund worth roughly $7 trillion.
According to the legislation, the fund would pay out "hundreds of billions of dollars" each year. Sanders projects that every American could receive more than $1,000 annually through a 5 percent dividend, with the remainder earmarked for critical public programs such as health care, education and affordable housing.
Control of the fund would rest with a newly created Independent Commission for Democratic AI. The bipartisan panel, composed of seven members nominated by the president and confirmed by the Senate, would hold voting shares in the taxed companies. With that leverage, the commission could block corporate decisions that threaten the public interest, giving ordinary citizens a direct seat at the table of AI governance.
"The benefits cannot simply go to a handful of wealthy corporations," Sanders told the Associated Press. "They will be shared by the American people." He added that the public must have a "significant seat at the table" to ensure AI advances serve ordinary citizens rather than corporate profit.
The plan has drawn a mixed response from industry leaders. OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman and Anthropic co‑founder Dario Amodei have voiced support for broader public benefits from AI, but both stopped short of endorsing Sanders’ tax rate and ownership structure. Sources present at a meeting with the senator said Altman remained "far apart" from Sanders on how much equity the public should hold in OpenAI.
Sanders dismissed firms that would offer less than a 50 percent stake as "greedy," emphasizing that the proposed fund would transfer a fair share of wealth while safeguarding humanity’s future. He confirmed he will campaign vigorously for the legislation, positioning the wealth fund as a cornerstone of his broader vision for democratic AI.
While the proposal promises unprecedented public investment in AI, its path to law faces steep hurdles. The tax would affect major players like Microsoft, Google and Nvidia, whose AI divisions already generate billions in revenue. Critics argue that a one‑time tax could stifle innovation or trigger legal challenges, but supporters contend that the massive fund could offset those risks by financing social safety nets and ensuring AI development aligns with public values.
As the debate unfolds, the Senate will weigh the bill’s fiscal impact, its constitutional viability and the practicalities of managing a $7 trillion fund. If enacted, Sanders’ plan would mark the first large‑scale, government‑directed redistribution of wealth from the tech sector to the broader populace.
Este artículo fue escrito con la asistencia de IA.
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