OpenAI offers US 5% stake as Sanders pushes for larger public wealth fund

Key takeaway

• OpenAI has offered to give the US a 5 percent stake in the company, framing it as a way to give Americans control over AI development.

• Senator Bernie Sanders has rejected this as inadequate, countering with a proposal for a much larger sovereign wealth fund financed by a 50 percent one-time tax on AI firms' stock.

• The dispute signals an ongoing negotiation over how public benefit from AI should be structured as the technology advances.

3 Key Points

FAQ

What is Sanders' alternative to OpenAI's 5 percent stake proposal?

Sanders has proposed requiring leading AI firms to pay a one-time 50 percent tax on their stock, which he estimated would yield about $7 trillion（約1100兆円）. This could be disbursed as direct payments to Americans or invested in programs such as health care, education, and housing.

How would Sanders ensure the public benefits from AI under his plan?

Sanders proposes creating a bipartisan Independent Commission for Democratic AI, with members nominated by the president and confirmed by the Senate. That commission could use voting shares to block leading AI firms from making decisions that could harm the public.