Bernie Sanders proposes 50% equity stake in large AI companies

Axios reported that Sen. Bernie Sanders unveiled a proposal for the U.S. government to take 50% equity stakes in large AI companies. The one-time tax would apply to companies with at least $200 million in annual AI revenue, with stakes held in a new sovereign wealth fund overseen by presidentially nominated commissioners. The fund would pay a 5% annual dividend to Americans, while companies increasing share counts would owe further equity to the government. Axios noted major practical and constitutional questions, including how to define an AI company, how integrated tech firms would separate AI and non-AI business lines, and how the fund would pay dividends without selling underlying equities.

Key details: Published June 18, 2026 at 14:14 UTC, The proposal targets companies with at least $200 million in annual AI revenue, Government stakes would go into a new sovereign wealth fund, Axios says the White House is discussing smaller but related AI-industry interventions.

Why it matters: The proposal turns AI labor-disruption fears into an explicit ownership and redistribution plan, pushing the policy debate beyond licensing, safety rules, and procurement.