Key facts
- Former President Donald Trump suggested the U.S. could take a small ownership stake in AI giants.
- Trump stated this would allow the American public to share in the upside of trillion-dollar companies.
- OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has previously discussed this concept with the Trump administration.
- Senator Bernie Sanders recently proposed public ownership stakes in top AI companies.
- Trump framed the idea as a way to improve AI's public image and ensure American leadership.
Former U.S. President Donald Trump has publicly suggested the idea of the U.S. government taking a small ownership stake in major artificial intelligence companies. Trump stated that such a move would allow the American public to share in the potential upside of these companies, which he anticipates will become trillion-dollar entities. He described the concept as a partnership with the American public, making them 'partners in this revolution' and potentially making them 'rich.'
This idea has been previously pushed by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman over the past year in conversations with the Trump administration. Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) recently reignited the discussion by proposing that the public receive a direct ownership stake in top AI companies through a one-time 50% tax paid in stock. Industry advocates have suggested smaller stakes, ranging from 1-5%, for an AI public wealth fund.