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Poll: 69% of Americans Want AI Giants to Hand Over Half Their Shares

A recent nationwide survey by market research firm Verasight, polling 1,690 U.S. adults, found that 69% of respondents support requiring large artificial intelligence companies to transfer 50% of their shares to a public sovereign wealth fund. This idea aligns closely with the "U.S. Artificial Intelligence Sovereign Wealth Fund Act" proposed by Senator Bernie Sanders. The bill would create a public trust fund worth an estimated $7 trillion, ensuring that the massive wealth generated by automation benefits the public.

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Why now? The push comes as AI reshapes the labor market and strains public infrastructure. By 2026, over 166,000 tech workers have already been laid off, and tracking platform Trueup predicts that number could hit 312,000 by year's end. Goldman Sachs senior global economist Joseph Briggs estimates that 15 million U.S. workers could face unemployment during the AI transition over the next decade.

Meanwhile, AI data centers are guzzling electricity, driving up power bills. Congress recently passed a bipartisan "Taxpayer Protection Act" aimed at forcing tech companies to share the cost of grid upgrades. Industry critics argue that forced share transfers are an extreme form of wealth extraction that could freeze venture capital and stifle domestic R&D. But the dramatic shift in public opinion suggests that the distribution of AI's benefits has become a core political issue—and Silicon Valley is under growing pressure to take on broader social responsibilities.

Key Points:

  • 69% of Americans support mandatory 50% share transfer from AI giants to a public fund.
  • Senator Bernie Sanders' bill proposes a $7 trillion sovereign wealth fund.
  • Over 166,000 tech layoffs in 2026; 15 million workers at risk over the decade.
  • AI data centers are driving up electricity costs, prompting new legislation.
  • Critics warn of stifled innovation, but public sentiment is pushing for change.