Most Americans Support Forcing AI Firms to Share Stock

A national survey of 1,690 adults conducted by research firm Verasight indicates that 69% of Americans support requiring artificial intelligence companies to transfer 50% of their stock to a public sovereign wealth fund. This fund would aim to redistribute AI profits back into the economy and potentially provide direct payments to citizens. The poll follows SpaceX's significant initial public offering and anticipates upcoming IPOs from major AI players like Anthropic and OpenAI. Publicly traded tech giants such as Meta Platforms and Alphabet have also seen stock value increase due to substantial AI investments.

Beyond profit sharing, the survey highlights broad public demand for increased oversight of AI development. A significant 89% of respondents believe AI companies should be mandated to publicly disclose all internal safety testing results. Furthermore, 81% support granting the federal government the authority to prohibit AI systems deemed unsafe. Ben Leff, CEO and cofounder of Verasight, noted in a press release that these findings represent a rare instance of bipartisan consensus on AI regulation.

The concept of a public sovereign wealth fund for AI profits is notably championed by Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont. Sanders recently introduced legislation proposing such a fund, which he estimates could generate $7 trillion. His proposal outlines three primary functions for the fund: establishing an Independent Commission for Democratic AI to manage assets, requiring companies to separate their AI and non-AI business divisions, and directing AI-generated profits back into the broader economy. Sanders articulated the underlying principle as "When a public resource generates wealth, the public should share in that wealth," emphasizing that the future of AI and humanity should not be determined in private settings.