Millions Would Get Direct Payments Under Proposed AI Sovereign Wealth Fund

Millions of Americans could eventually receive direct payments under a new proposal to create a federally managed "AI sovereign wealth fund," Senator Bernie Sanders said on Monday.

In a new video posted to social media platform X, the independent senator from Vermont said the rapid growth of AI could generate trillions of dollars and that ordinary Americans should share in those gains through cash payments.

"Even President Trump has proposed establishing a United States sovereign wealth fund," Sanders said in the video. "The billions, if not trillions, generated by this legislation would provide direct payments to the American people and help guarantee health care, education and housing as human rights.

If passed, Sanders' proposal would give the public a direct ownership stake in leading AI companies and funnel the returns back to citizens.

Why It Matters

The proposal comes as AI is expected to transform the U.S. economy, raising questions about job loss, wealth concentration, and who benefits from automation. While AI could generate enormous wealth, many feel it should not be concentrated in the hands of a small number of companies or investors. Direct payments could offset economic disruption caused by that automation.

However, some concerns remain about such a massive transfer of private equity, and key details, such as the payment amount and eligibility, have not yet been finalized.

What To Know

Sanders' proposal, known as the American AI Sovereign Wealth Fund Act, would fundamentally reshape ownership of the AI economy. Under the law, many new rules on AI would be implemented:

• Fifty percent equity transfer: Large AI companies such as OpenAI, Anthropic, and xAI would transfer 50 percent of their stock to a public fund.
• No traditional tax: The measure would be a one-time transfer of stock, not a tax on profits.
• Government-managed fund: The shares would be held in a sovereign wealth fund on behalf of the American public.
• Direct payments: Revenue generated by the fund would be distributed to Americans as cash payments, particularly in the early stages.
• Long-term spending: As the fund grows, proceeds could also support programs such as health care, education, and housing.

Sanders has framed the policy around the idea that AI systems rely on the accumulated knowledge, creativity, and labor of the public, arguing that the wealth they generate should be broadly shared.

"AI is built on humanity's collective knowledge," Sanders wrote on X. "The wealth it generates must benefit humanity - not just Elon Musk, Sam Altman and other AI oligarchs."

What Could Direct Payments Look Like?

Sanders has explicitly said the proposal would lead to cash payments for Americans, that the fund could produce "billions, if not trillions," in returns to be distributed directly.

While specifics such as the payment size or timing have not yet been detailed, the concept could serve as an AI-driven dividend, in which citizens receive a direct share of national wealth generated by technology.

"AI is being pitched as the most transformational technology we’ve ever seen," Kevin Thompson, the CEO of 9i Capital Group and the host of the 9innings podcast, told Newsweek. "The concern is that it may replace jobs and reduce opportunities for some workers. The idea behind a sovereign AI fund is to allow people to share in the economic gains created by AI and potentially offset some of that lost income."

How It Compares to Other AI Payment Proposals

Sanders' plan builds on ideas already circulating among tech leaders and policymakers. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has also proposed a public wealth fund tied to AI growth that would give Americans an economic stake, while Anthropic has also backed the idea of sovereign wealth funds holding AI equity stakes.

Elon Musk promoted a similar idea in April, suggesting that AI could create a "universal high income" as a response to AI-driven job displacement.

"Universal HIGH INCOME via checks issued by the Federal government is the best way to deal with unemployment caused by AI," Musk wrote on X. "AI/robotics will produce goods & services far in excess of the increase in the money supply, so there will not be inflation."

What Has Trump Said About the AI Sovereign Wealth Fund Concept?

Trump signed an executive order in 2025 directing officials to develop a plan for a U.S. sovereign wealth fund to improve long-term fiscal stability.

While that proposal focused primarily on national investment and economic growth rather than direct payments to individuals, the popularity of the AI dividend checks could translate into direct payments down the line, especially as AI reshapes entire industries.

In practice, Sanders’ proposal goes "well beyond" previous sovereign wealth fund discussions from OpenAI, Anthropic, or the Trump administration, according to Brad Gastwirth, the global head of research and market intelligence for Circular Technology.

"While the broader idea of sharing AI driven economic gains has support across parts of the AI industry, the specific mechanism Sanders is proposing faces enormous political, legal, and practical hurdles," Gastwirth told Newsweek. "A mandatory transfer of 50 percent ownership would likely face fierce opposition from industry, investors, and many lawmakers, making passage in its current form highly unlikely."

The Alaska Comparison

Sanders has pointed to the Alaska Permanent Fund Dividend as a real-world model for how this kind of policy could work.

"In this case, AI would be the new ‘oil,' and Americans would receive some type of dividend from the wealth it creates," Thompson told Newsweek.

Under the Alaska dividend program, the following occurs:

• Alaska invests oil revenue into a state-owned fund.
• Earnings from that fund are distributed annually to residents.
• Payments go to nearly every eligible resident regardless of income.
• The 2025 dividend was $1,000 per person.

In effect, the Alaska system treats natural resource wealth as a shared public asset, and Sanders has argued that AI should be treated similarly, essentially as a product of collective human knowledge.

"The Alaska comparison is the genius part. Alaska built a sovereign wealth fund off oil fifty years ago and still cuts annual checks to residents. Norway did it with petrol and now has two trillion sitting around," Michael Ryan, a finance expert and the founder of MichaelRyanMoney.com, told Newsweek.

"Sanders’ argument? AI is built on something better than oil…all the human knowledge and creativity that trained these models. Why shouldn’t the public own a slice?"

What Happens Next

Sanders has said he plans to formally introduce the legislation in the coming weeks, but the proposal would likely face a difficult path in Congress.

At this stage:

• The plan exists as a legislative proposal, not a law.
• No official payment amounts or rollout timelines have been set.
• A broader debate is expected over AI ownership and wealth distribution.

"I don’t see it passing. In today’s political environment, anything that looks like wealth redistribution faces an uphill battle," Thompson said. "Right now, it feels more like political theater than actual policy."

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This story was originally published June 2, 2026 at 12:08 PM.