Donald Trump, Bernie Sanders and Sam Altman are all talking about public ownership in AI
U.S. politicians from both parties, including Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders, are advocating for public ownership stakes in AI companies like OpenAI, with Sanders proposing a 50% stake to fund public wealth. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman met with Sanders to discuss public equity in AI, while Trump signaled plans for AI executives to meet at the White House and highlighted economic alignment between his and Sanders’ supporters on the issue.
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) has proposed a plan for the U.S. government to take a 50% ownership stake in AI companies like OpenAI, using their stock to create a public wealth fund. In a recent meeting, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman expressed support for public equity in AI, though he did not endorse Sanders’ 50% threshold. Altman requested the meeting, signaling growing discussions between AI leaders and policymakers amid public skepticism about the technology’s benefits. Donald Trump, speaking on Air Force One, echoed the idea of public involvement in AI’s success, stating that executives from major AI firms may visit the White House soon to discuss partnerships. He framed the proposal as a way for Americans to share in AI’s growth, noting that economic views of his supporters and Sanders’ backers overlap on this issue. Trump’s administration has previously taken stakes in private companies, such as a 10% investment in Intel last year. Public concerns about AI are rising beyond political debates. In Michigan, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) faced criticism for promoting a 1.65 million-square-foot data center project with Altman, despite claims it would create 2,500 union jobs. Local activists and some Democrats, including Rep. Rashida Tlaib, oppose the project over electricity and water demands, reflecting broader backlash against data centers nationwide. States like Ohio and Virginia are reconsidering tax incentives for AI infrastructure due to environmental and resource concerns. Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley (R) has called for legislation requiring data centers to fund their own electricity and water supplies. Altman acknowledged AI’s societal impact, stating it could both improve daily life and raise future anxieties. The discussions highlight tensions between AI’s rapid growth and public demands for accountability, with policymakers from both parties exploring ways to ensure broader economic benefits from the technology.
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