PANews reported on June 2nd that U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders recently announced plans to introduce the "American AI Sovereign Wealth Fund Act," which proposes a one-time 50% equity tax on the largest AI companies in the U.S. and injecting related shares into the national sovereign wealth fund. Ultimately, the wealth created by AI would be shared with all Americans through cash dividends, healthcare, education, and housing. Sanders believes that the development of artificial intelligence is built upon the knowledge and public investment created by humanity over a long period; therefore, the trillions of dollars in wealth generated by AI should not be solely enjoyed by a few technology companies and shareholders. He also criticized that since Trump's election, the wealth of the seven richest tech entrepreneurs in the U.S. has increased by approximately $1.15 trillion, while most Americans still face financial pressure.
This proposal leans more towards "wealth redistribution" than directly restricting technological development, compared to its previous stance of halting the expansion of AI data centers. However, market analysts point out that there is currently no clear evidence of AI massively replacing jobs in the US, and a one-time 50% equity tax is virtually unprecedented in US history. Neither the TARP bailout program during the financial crisis nor government strategic investments in companies have been predicated on the government acquiring equity in exchange for capital, rather than directly seizing company shares.
Furthermore, the bill still has many unresolved issues, including the scope of applicable companies, the funding allocation mechanism, its relationship with the existing welfare system, and the specific implementation path. Sanders stated that the full text of the bill will be released in the coming weeks. The proposal is currently still in the policy advocacy stage, and there is considerable uncertainty regarding its legislation and implementation. However, it reflects the growing discussion in the US political arena regarding "AI wealth distribution" and "sharing the AI dividend with all citizens" as the value of the AI industry rapidly expands. For leading AI companies such as OpenAI and Anthropic, related regulatory and tax policy risks may become a significant focus in the future.
