White House Weighs AI Equity Stakes as Sanders Pushes 50% Sovereign Wealth Fund

3 articles · Updated · Bloomberg · Jul 20

Government ownership of major AI companies is under consideration in Washington, with President Donald Trump calling a federal equity stake in AI firms “a beautiful thing.”
50% of equity would be diverted to a sovereign wealth fund under a proposal backed by Sen. Bernie Sanders, while OpenAI has reportedly offered the federal government a 5% ownership stake.
Critics argue Americans already benefit from AI through productivity, jobs, innovation and future tax revenue, making ownership unnecessary if the goal is broader public gain.
They warn federal stakes could distort competition, favor entrenched firms over startups and leave taxpayers exposed to bailouts if politically connected AI companies become too big to fail.
Because AI systems also function as speech platforms, opponents say government ownership could amplify censorship, surveillance and political influence over information and knowledge.

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Who Owns the Future of AI? The Case for a 50% Public Stake in U.S. Artificial Intelligence Companies

Overview

In June 2026, Senator Bernie Sanders introduced the American AI Sovereign Wealth Fund Act, aiming to ensure that the benefits of artificial intelligence are shared broadly among all Americans, not just a handful of billionaires. Sanders believes AI has the potential to greatly improve lives but is concerned about growing wealth concentration and lack of democratic input in its development. His proposal seeks to establish public ownership stakes in major AI companies, redirecting profits to counteract income inequality and enhance social welfare. This landmark act reflects a growing recognition of AI's profound societal impact and the urgent need for equitable benefit distribution.

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