Sen. Bernie Sanders wants to give Americans more control over AI. But how?

Summary

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Episode Overview

Podcast: Consider This from NPR
Episode Title: Sen. Bernie Sanders wants to give Americans more control over AI. But how?
Date: June 18, 2026
Host: Juana Summers

This episode delves into Senator Bernie Sanders' ambitious proposal to give Americans more direct control over the rapidly developing field of artificial intelligence (AI). Sanders discusses his vision for an AI sovereign wealth fund, how it would address concerns about economic inequality and unchecked corporate power in AI, and the broader implications for democracy and the workforce.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Need for Public Control and Oversight of AI

• Bernie Sanders' Critique: Only a handful of people and companies, led by billionaire CEOs, are currently benefiting from the AI boom, leaving most Americans vulnerable to the changes AI is bringing to society and the economy.
  • [00:17] “The average American understands that AI is going to have a profound impact on his or her life. And yet as of today, there has not been one significant piece of legislation passed to regulate AI that is independent.” — Sen. Bernie Sanders

2. The Sovereign Wealth Fund Proposal

• Key Elements of the Plan:
  • Impose a one-time, 50% tax on the stock holdings of the top AI companies.
  • Use the proceeds to establish a sovereign wealth fund, sending an annual $1,000 check to every American.
  • The fund would also grant the public 50% representation on the boards of every major AI company.
  • [00:53] “The public would have 50% representation on every major AI company... the people representing the public will say, sorry, you can't do that.” — Sen. Bernie Sanders

3. Motivations and Risks of AI’s Rapid Growth

• Potential Dangers:
  • Mass job displacement due to automation.
  • Privacy and data security risks.
  • Negative effects on children’s mental health.
  • Threats to democracy via deepfakes and disinformation.
  • Existential risks as AI surpasses human intelligence.
  • [03:29] “It will impact our economy and perhaps lead to the loss of tens of millions of jobs over the next decade... It is going to have a deleterious impact on the mental health of our kids. It’s going to impact our democracy... there’s the existential threat...” — Sen. Bernie Sanders

4. Economic and Democratic Equity

• Beyond Financial Dividends: While the $1,000 check is notable, Sanders emphasizes that true public benefit comes from representation and democratic accountability in how AI is developed and used.
  • [04:44] “The more important point is that the public would have 50% representation... we have got to work to make sure that AI and robotics work for all of us, not just to enrich people who are already incredibly wealthy and powerful.” — Sen. Bernie Sanders

5. Industry and Political Response

• Industry Pushback: Leading AI CEOs, including Sam Altman (OpenAI), are “not enthusiastic” about ceding power or supporting the proposal.
  • [06:16] “He was not enthusiastic about this idea, to tell you the truth. But not surprisingly, nor are any of the major CEO executives. They have enormous wealth now. They have enormous power, and they want more.” — Sen. Bernie Sanders
• Comparison with Trump’s Ideas: Former President Trump has floated a different version of a sovereign wealth fund, but Sanders argues his own plan is more comprehensive and focused on public good, not just wealth redistribution.
  • [07:14] “We are talking about giving the American people the ability to help control the future of AI so that it works for the public good, not just to benefit the very, very wealthy.” — Sen. Bernie Sanders

6. Legislative Challenges

• Obstacles: Sanders points to the influence of corporate money in politics as the main reason for lack of AI regulation to date.
  • [07:47] “There has not been one significant piece of legislation passed to regulate AI and why is that? It speaks to the corrupt campaign finance system that we have and the fact that AI can spend as much money as they want...” — Sen. Bernie Sanders
• Path Forward: Believes grassroots activism and electing representatives committed to the public interest will be crucial for passing such legislation.
  • [08:52] “It will have to start at the grassroots level... It’s not going to be done by members of Congress who are owned by the AI industry.” — Sen. Bernie Sanders

7. Balancing Optimism and Concern

• Potential of AI: Sanders acknowledges the transformative benefits of AI in areas like healthcare and addressing climate change—if properly governed.
• Cautious Hopefulness: He worries about AI’s risks but insists the question is not whether to stop AI, but how to ensure it benefits society rather than concentrating power and wealth.
  • [09:41] “I think AI has real benefits... But I worry, I do worry very, very much so... The question is how we can make sure that it works in a positive... We got to make sure that AI works for everybody and the common good, not just to make the richest people in the world even richer and more powerful.” — Sen. Bernie Sanders

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the essence of the public stake:
  [04:44] “The more important point is that the public would have 50% representation on every major AI company...” — Sen. Bernie Sanders

• On industry’s reaction:
  [06:16] “He [Sam Altman] was not enthusiastic about this idea, to tell you the truth...” — Sen. Bernie Sanders

• On political reality:
  [07:47] “It speaks to the corrupt campaign finance system that we have and the fact that AI can spend as much money as they want…” — Sen. Bernie Sanders

• On the broader purpose:
  [09:41] “We got to make sure that AI works for everybody and the common good, not just to make the richest people in the world even richer and more powerful.” — Sen. Bernie Sanders

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• Introduction and core problem framing: 00:00–01:11
• Sanders introduces his proposal: 03:20–04:44
• Risks and transformative potential of AI: 03:29–04:23
• Proposal details and public representation: 04:44–05:19
• Industry response and Sam Altman meeting: 06:03–06:40
• Comparison with Trump's approach: 06:40–07:14
• Campaign finance and legislative challenges: 07:47–08:43
• Prospects for passage and grassroots movement: 08:43–09:29
• Balancing concerns with optimism: 09:29–10:27

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Tone and Language

The episode is direct, substantive, and urgent, reflecting Sanders’ characteristic rhetorical style: passionate, focused on economic and political justice, and critical of entrenched corporate power. The conversation is accessible, frank, and rooted in Sanders’ populist framing of the stakes around AI.

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Summary

This episode offers a timely examination of who controls the future of AI and what mechanisms could allow the broader public to benefit from and guide its development. Senator Bernie Sanders makes the case for robust legislative intervention: a sovereign wealth fund, funded by taxing AI giants, offering both direct economic benefit and a democratic voice for ordinary Americans. The discussion highlights the huge stakes, fierce industry opposition, and the political and philosophical questions at the heart of AI governance today.

Transcript

[Juana Summers]

It's consider this where every day we go deep on one big news story today, a public stake in the country's largest AI companies. The US Economy's future is being shaped right now by AI and a handful of people are reaping the benefits with little oversight.

[Senator Bernie Sanders]

The average American understands that AI is going to have a profound impact on his or her life. And yet as of today, there has not been one significant piece of legislation passed to regulate AI that is independent

[Juana Summers]

US Senator Bernie Sanders. And he wants to change that. His solution? A sovereign wealth fund financed by the AI industry. The top AI companies would be subject to a one time 50% tax on their stocks and that could send Every American a $1,000 check and the public

[Senator Bernie Sanders]

would have 50% representation on every major AI company. And that means that these billionaires who now control the industry want to do something that will be harmful to the American people. The people representing the public will say, sorry, you can't do that.

[Juana Summers]

Consider this. Only a handful of people are benefiting from the AI boom. Could a sovereign wealth fund level the playing field? From npr, I'm Juana Summers.

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[Juana Summers]

It's consider this from npr. A small number of people have made billions from AI and controlled the future of this groundbreaking technology. While a large number of people have growing unease about AI's impact on the American workforce. They have little say in that matter. Senator Bernie Sanders wants to change that. His proposed legislation would create what he is calling an AI sovereign wealth fund. Bernie Sanders, independent senator from Vermont, joins us now.

[Senator Bernie Sanders]

Thanks very much for having me.

[Juana Summers]

Thanks for being here. Okay, I just want to start by asking you, what types of scenarios do you foresee that led you to write this legislation?

[Senator Bernie Sanders]

I'll tell you why I got involved in this whole issue of AI. Because it is clear to me that AI is going to be the most transformational technology in the history of humanity. It will dwarf what the Industrial Revolution did. It's going to move very, very quickly. It will impact our economy and perhaps lead to the loss of tens of millions of jobs over the next decade. It's going to have a huge impact in devastating privacy rights, your health care records, your banking records, et cetera, et cetera. It is going to have a deleterious impact on the mental health of our kids. It's going to impact our democracy. Right now, you're already seeing deep fakes. And by the way, there's the existential threat that as AI becomes smarter than humans, become independent, and lead to catastrophic impacts.

[Juana Summers]

Yeah, that's a long list there. Now, your office has calculated that a 50% tax on the top AI company stock means, at today's rates, a fund could send a $1,000 check to every American each year. Now, $1,000 is not anything to sneeze at. But if AI does permanently change our economy, how much would that help?

[Senator Bernie Sanders]

Well, the more important point is that the public would have 50% representation on every major AI company. That's the more important point. That means that when Mr. Musk and Mr. Bezos and these billionaires who now control the industry want to do something that will be harmful to the American people, the people representing the public will say, sorry, you can't do that. And we have got to work to make sure that AI and robotics work for all of us, not just to enrich people who are already incredibly wealthy and powerful.

[Juana Summers]

That kind of proposal sounds like something that might be a pretty hard sell for some of the leaders of the leading AI companies. What have you heard from them?

[Senator Bernie Sanders]

Well, I'm not talking to the leaders of the AI companies. We're talking to the American people. Here is a very important aspect of this whole discussion, and that is the foundations of AI is based on human knowledge and human labor. This discussion that we're having will become part of AI. Every book that somebody has written, every work in mathematics Every poet becomes part of AI and the people themselves who have built AI, if you like, through their knowledge and work, they deserve the benefits of that. So it's not what the. The billionaire CEOs want. It's what the American people want.

[Juana Summers]

I do want to ask you about one of those CEOs, because according to the Associated Press, you did meet with the CEO of OpenAI, Sam Altman, for about an hour in private at your Senate office earlier this month. Did you talk to him about this idea and what did he think of it?

[Senator Bernie Sanders]

He was not enthusiastic about this idea, to tell you the truth. But not surprisingly, nor are any of the major CEO executives. They have enormous wealth now. They have enormous power, and they want more. And the idea that the American people will be able to say no to some of their harmful projects is not something they are sympathetic to. On the contrary, though, the American people, I think, think it's a very good idea.

[Juana Summers]

Now, President Trump has talked about how he wants to start a sovereign wealth fund for the US like ones in Saudi Arabia, China, and Norway. Is President Trump a potential ally for you on this legislation?

[Senator Bernie Sanders]

I doubt it very much. I mean, Trump is. Trump is actually a good politician. I mean, he's a terrible president, but he's a good politician. He knows where people are at. And I think what he's seeing is what a lot of people are saying. The American people are angry. They're tired of getting ripped off. They don't want to see all this wealth go to a handful of billionaires. And Trump is saying, hey, maybe we can get some of that.

[Juana Summers]

But.

[Senator Bernie Sanders]

But what we are talking about is something very different. We are talking about giving the American people the ability to help control the future of AI so that it works for the public good, not just to benefit the very, very wealthy.

[Juana Summers]

Have you spoken to the president about this issue?

[Senator Bernie Sanders]

No, I have not.

[Juana Summers]

I know that there are a number of pieces of draft legislation floating around the Hill that seek to regulate AI. For example, there's a bipartisan bill called the Great American AI Act. There are some tax ideas from Senator Elizabeth Warren as well as others. What makes your bill. What makes this bill the right.

[Senator Bernie Sanders]

Well, I think it's more comprehensive than other bills. But I would say this, and here is really a remarkable reality. The average American understands that AI is going to have a profound impact on his or her life and the lives of kids. And yet, as of today, there has not been one significant piece of legislation passed to regulate AI and why is that? It speaks to the corrupt campaign finance system. That we have and the fact that AI can spend as much money as they want. We're talking about hundreds and hundreds of millions of dollars they're going to spend right now in this coming election to make sure that we do not have members of Congress who are going to protect the American people regarding this industry. That's a sad state of affairs. So that's a whole other issue in terms of reforming a corrupt campaign finance system that we got to work on.

[Juana Summers]

Just thinking about the legislative road here, do you see a path that legislation like this can actually become law, can actually make its way through both chambers of Congress?

[Senator Bernie Sanders]

Yes, I do. But it will have to start at the grassroots level. And I think there are candidates all over this country who are in agreement with me. A number of months ago, as you may recall, we introduced a legislation calling for a moratorium on data centers. Initially did not have much support. Now you're seeing two states legislatures passing and hundreds of communities moving forward. It's not going to be done by members of Congress who are owned by the AI industry. It will be done when the American people start electing people who are going to stand up and represent the average person and not just the CEOs of large corporations.

[Juana Summers]

Senator, we began our conversation by talking about a number of the ills and anxieties and concerns that you and others have about AI. I want to ask you this. Do you ever wish that AI had never been created?

[Senator Bernie Sanders]

I am very worried about it. I think AI has real benefits in terms of health care and other areas. It's a very, very powerful tool. But I worry, I do worry very, very much so. The bottom line is not whether AI is going to exist or not exist or whether it's going to go forward or not. The question is how we can make sure that it works in a positive if we can lower the work week and increase people's salaries, if we can improve people's health, if we can figure out a way to use AI to address the crisis of climate change. That's positive stuff. But that's what we've got to do. We got to make sure that AI works for everybody and the common good, not just to make the richest people in the world even richer and more powerful.

[Juana Summers]

Senator Bernie Sanders, independent from Vermont, thanks so much for your time.

[Senator Bernie Sanders]

Thank you very much. Take care.

[Juana Summers]

This episode was produced by Christopher Harlan Dunaway and Tyler Bartlam. It was edited by Sarah Handel and 10 B. Ermias. Our interim executive producer is Courtney Dorning. It's consider this from npr. I'm Juana Summers

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