Bernie Sanders unveils $7 trillion plan to give Americans control of AI industry (arstechnica.com)

Bernie Sanders has proposed a landmark $7 trillion plan aimed at giving Americans more control over the AI industry by imposing a one-time 50% tax on the stock of the largest AI companies. This legislation targets firms with over $200 million in annual AI sales, proposing that the wealth generated would be channeled into a sovereign wealth fund. This fund is expected to provide direct payments to Americans, estimated to exceed $1,000 annually per individual, while also supporting critical social programs such as healthcare and education. The significance of this proposal lies in its potential to redistribute wealth from dominant tech companies back to the public while giving everyday Americans a stake in AI decision-making. A bipartisan Independent Commission for Democratic AI would be established to oversee this fund, granting it the power to influence corporate decisions that could negatively impact the public. Sanders’ approach contrasts sharply with the more moderate views of industry leaders like OpenAI’s Sam Altman, focusing on ensuring AI serves the broader interests of society rather than those of a few wealthy corporations. As Sanders prepares to campaign on this initiative, he emphasizes that the benefits of AI should directly enhance the lives of ordinary people.