U.S. President Donald Trump said he is considering ways to ensure that Americans directly benefit from the rapid growth of artificial intelligence, amid concerns that the industry’s enormous profits could be concentrated among a small number of companies and investors. Trump recently suggested that AI firms should “give back” to the public. Policymakers, industry leaders, and advocacy groups have proposed several methods to achieve this, including granting the federal government ownership stakes in AI companies, appointing government representatives to corporate boards, or imposing industry-specific taxes.

Such measures could significantly alter federal revenue streams. OpenAI and Anthropic reportedly filed confidential paperwork this month for U.S. initial public offerings, with OpenAI aiming for a valuation as high as $1 trillion. One proposal, championed by Senator Bernie Sanders, would use the tax system to capture a share of AI-generated wealth. Sanders has suggested that large AI firms provide the government with a 50% ownership stake and board representation, arguing that Americans should have a say in how AI is developed while also sharing in its financial rewards.

A related concept, proposed by legal scholars, would allow companies to pay certain taxes with shares rather than cash. This approach would gradually transfer equity to the government without requiring direct public investment and without giving the government a controlling stake. Another option would involve the government receiving equity in exchange for financial support, similar to its arrangement with Intel, where the company granted a 10% stake in return for billions of dollars in funding to expand domestic manufacturing. Supporters argue that government investments could help fund the massive infrastructure needs of the AI sector, which continues to seek substantial capital for data centers, chips, and related projects.

Critics, however, warn that government ownership could create conflicts of interest. They argue that regulators should focus on protecting the public rather than maximizing returns on government investments. A third approach would direct AI-generated wealth to the public through a dedicated fund. OpenAI has proposed a “public wealth fund” that would invest in AI companies and distribute returns to citizens. Anthropic has also explored the idea of a “digital dividend,” under which Americans would receive payments funded by taxes on AI companies

Supporters compare these ideas to the Alaska Permanent Fund, which invests state oil revenues and distributes annual dividends to residents. Advocates contend that AI relies heavily on public resources and data, making it reasonable for citizens to share in the economic benefits generated by the technology. According to proponents, AI’s success is built in part on public infrastructure and collectively generated data, and therefore its rewards should not be limited to a small group of wealthy individuals or corporations.