Bernie Sanders Wants AI Companies to Pay Every American $1,000 a Year

Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont introduced a new bill on Thursday that could send every American $1,000 each year. The money would come from a special fund built from shares in the biggest artificial intelligence companies. Sanders wants the public — not just the wealthy — to benefit from the rise of AI technology. He said that powerful new technology should not belong only to a few rich people.

Under Sanders's plan, the largest AI companies would be required to hand over 50 percent of their stock one time. That stock would go into a sovereign wealth fund, which is a large pool of money managed by the government for the public. Sanders's office estimates the fund could grow to about $7 trillion. Each year, 5 percent of the fund's earnings could be used to send a $1,000 check to every person in the United States.

The fund would be run by a seven-person independent commission — a group not tied to any one company or political party. Congress would create a list of possible members, the president would choose them, and the Senate would vote to approve. Those commissioners would also have seats on the boards of the AI companies in the fund. That would give the public a real voice in how those companies make decisions.

Smaller AI companies would join the fund once they reach a certain size, like $200 million in yearly sales. The AI divisions of big tech companies like Nvidia, Google, Microsoft, Amazon, and Elon Musk's SpaceX could also be included. Companies would need to keep their AI work separate from the rest of their business, though exactly how that works is still unclear.

President Trump has also talked about having the government take a stake in top AI companies, though he has not shared details. The fact that Trump and Sanders — two politicians who rarely agree — both like this kind of idea is surprising to many people. Researcher Sam Manning said concerns about AI are bringing together people from very different political backgrounds. He said ideas that seemed impossible a year ago are now being seriously discussed.

Most big AI companies have not shown much support for the plan. Microsoft president Brad Smith said his company is not interested in selling a share of itself to the government. A trade group that includes Google, OpenAI, and Anthropic said it wants Congress to focus on safety rules and job training instead. Even so, some people who usually oppose AI regulation say they can understand why the idea is appealing.

A recent Pew Research Center survey found that most Americans are worried AI is growing too fast. Many people do not trust the companies building AI and do not think the government can control it well. Whether a $1,000 check or public ownership of AI companies would ease those fears is still unknown. For now, Sanders's bill faces a tough road in a Congress controlled by Republicans.