Bernie Sanders unveils $7 trillion plan to give Americans control of AI industry

[ancianita]

https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2026/06/bernie-sanders-unveils-7-trillion-plan-to-give-americans-control-of-ai-industry/


"... Sanders shared a summary of his legislation with AP News. If passed, the law would create a sovereign wealth fund “financed through a one-time 50 percent tax on the stock of the largest AI companies,” AP News reported. Any AI firm that does $200 million in annual AI sales would be subject to the tax, as would any new firm once it reaches that revenue level.

In total, Sanders estimated the fund could be worth $7 trillion, generating “hundreds of billions of dollars annually in direct payments to Americans and programs such as health care, education and housing,” AP News reported. Each American would likely receive more than $1,000 annually in 5 percent annual dividends, Sanders estimated.
“The benefits cannot simply go to the handful of wealthy corporations,” Sanders said. “They will be shared by the American people.”

Beyond the payouts and support for critical US programs, the legislation would also ensure that Americans have “direct influence over corporate decision-making,” Sanders said. Seven members of a newly created, bipartisan Independent Commission for Democratic AI—nominated by the president and confirmed by the Senate—would oversee the fund. Using voting shares, the commission could block any decisions companies may move to make that could harm the public, The Hill reported.

“The public has got to have a significant seat at the table to make sure that terrible things do not happen to ordinary people, and that in fact, AI benefits ordinary people, not hurts them,” Sanders told AP News...
“We think this is the best that we could do at the moment, and it’s certainly a major, major, major step forward from giving unilateral and total power to a handful of multi-billionaires,” Sanders said."


The best idea I've come across -- at the very least, a smart, positive start toward congressional action on behalf of Americans.

[FakeNoose]

1. The AI bros are scrambling to hide their $ billions of profits starting today ...

[ancianita]

2. I hear you.