Trump, Sanders, and Altman Find Unlikely Common Ground on Public Ownership in AI
A Rare Convergence on AI Ownership
Three figures not typically aligned on economic policy—former President Donald Trump, Senator Bernie Sanders, and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman—have each recently floated ideas around public ownership or public investment in artificial intelligence. The convergence is notable, as it cuts across typical political and industry lines.
Different Angles, Similar Themes
Trump has suggested that the U.S. government should have a financial stake in AI companies developing technology of national importance. Sanders, long an advocate for public investment in key sectors, has called for democratic oversight of AI development to ensure it serves the public interest. Altman, whose company OpenAI was founded with a hybrid nonprofit structure, has discussed the need for AI to benefit humanity broadly and has hinted at models where the public has a stake in transformative AI developments.
What "Public Ownership" Could Mean
The term covers a range of proposals:
- Government equity stakes in AI companies deemed strategically important
- Public investment funds that would own shares in AI firms
- Open-source or publicly funded AI infrastructure accessible to all
- Nonprofit or hybrid governance structures that limit private profit-taking
Why Now?
The discussions come amid growing concerns about AI's concentration of power in a handful of large tech companies, national security implications of AI leadership, and questions about how the economic gains from AI will be distributed. Both sides of the political aisle have expressed worry that AI could exacerbate inequality if its benefits flow primarily to shareholders and executives.