AI Policy Proposals: Public Ownership, Tax Shifts, and the Future of Work

A series of recent policy proposals, legislative actions, and private discussions have outlined potential frameworks for managing the economic impact of artificial intelligence, centered on the concept of public ownership in AI companies and shifts in tax policy.

Policy Framework and Objectives

OpenAI released a 13-page paper titled "Industrial Policy for the Intelligence Age" on Monday, proposing a re-evaluation of tax structures, work schedules, and social safety nets to prepare for what the company describes as "superintelligence"—AI systems capable of surpassing human intellect.

The document aims to initiate public discussion on "people-first policy ideas," according to the company.

OpenAI's framework focuses on three main objectives: broader distribution of AI-driven prosperity, establishing safeguards for systemic risks, and ensuring wide access to AI capabilities to prevent the over-concentration of economic power.

Key Policy Proposals

Public Wealth Fund and Government Equity

The document proposes establishing a Public Wealth Fund to grant Americans an automatic public stake in AI companies and infrastructure, with returns distributed directly to citizens.

Senior US officials have held preliminary discussions with major AI companies about the federal government acquiring shares in their firms. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has discussed the idea with senior Trump administration officials since the start of President Donald Trump's second term, first pitching it to President Trump in early 2025. Discussions have centered on firms voluntarily ceding shares to the government, with returns directed to public purposes such as a dividend payment to all US households.

President Trump stated on Friday that he has spoken to AI companies about potential deals where the American people could benefit from AI success. Specific companies were not mentioned, but Trump said he discussed concepts where the American public would become partners with companies. This aligns with Trump's interest in government ownership, including a 10% stake in Intel last year.

Anthropic confirmed it is not having conversations with the administration about providing equity to the government.

Legislative Action

Senator Bernie Sanders has introduced legislation that would impose a one-time 50% tax on the stock of major AI companies, with the proceeds used to create a sovereign wealth fund estimated at $7 trillion. The fund would be managed by a seven-person independent commission and would distribute annual dividends of over $1,000 per American, with additional gains allocated to public goods including education, housing, and healthcare.

The tax would apply to AI companies with annual AI sales exceeding $200 million. Unlike a traditional tax, companies would transfer stock rather than cash, effectively giving the American public an ownership stake in these firms. The commission would use voting shares to block decisions that harm the public and promote beneficial policies. Sanders estimates the fund would generate hundreds of billions of dollars annually.

Altman expressed support for the general concept of public ownership but did not endorse Sanders' proposal for a 50% public ownership stake. Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei has suggested universal basic income funded by taxes on AI companies.

Tax Structure Changes

OpenAI's document proposes shifting the tax burden from labor to capital. The company suggests that AI-driven growth could diminish the tax base supporting programs like Social Security and Medicaid as corporate profits increase and reliance on labor income decreases.

The company proposes higher taxes on corporate income, AI-driven returns, or top-tier capital gains. A potential "robot tax" was also mentioned, similar to a concept proposed by Bill Gates in 2017.

Labor and Workplace Proposals

Labor-focused proposals include:

• Subsidizing a four-day workweek without a loss in pay
• Increasing company contributions to retirement plans
• Covering a larger portion of healthcare, child, or eldercare costs

These are framed as corporate responsibilities. Additionally, OpenAI suggests portable benefit accounts that could follow workers between jobs, though these still depend on employer contributions.

Safety and Infrastructure

OpenAI acknowledges risks including misuse by governments or malicious entities and the possibility of AI systems operating beyond human control. To address these, the company proposes:

• Containment plans for dangerous AI
• New oversight bodies
• Targeted safeguards against high-risk applications including cyberattacks and biological threats

Growth proposals include expanding electricity infrastructure to meet AI's power demands and accelerating AI infrastructure development through subsidies, tax credits, or equity stakes. OpenAI suggests AI should be treated as a utility, advocating for industry and government collaboration to ensure affordability and wide availability.

Reactions and Criticisms

Policy Community Response

Lucia Velasco, a senior economist and AI policy leader, acknowledged the document's value in highlighting governments' lag in policy solutions, viewing AI as a structural economic shift rather than merely a technology problem. However, she noted OpenAI's inherent interest in shaping the conversation.

Soribel Feliz, an independent AI policy advisor, credited OpenAI for formalizing the conversation around AI's impact on US institutions and safety nets. She pointed out that many proposed ideas—sharing prosperity, mitigating risks, and democratizing access—have been central to AI governance discussions since late 2022. She highlighted a gap between identifying solutions and establishing concrete mechanisms for implementation.

Nathan Calvin, vice president of state affairs at Encode AI, found the document an improvement over previous high-level papers, praising suggestions for auditing, incident reporting, and government restrictions on certain AI uses. However, he raised concerns about OpenAI's lobbying activities through the Leading the Future PAC, which has reportedly campaigned against politicians advocating for policies similar to those endorsed in the paper.

Anton Leicht, a visiting scholar with the Carnegie Endowment, expressed skepticism, suggesting the paper's ideas represent fundamental societal changes that are politically challenging to implement. He characterized the document as "comms work" designed to provide cover for regulatory inaction.

Government Ownership Concerns

Critics argue that government ownership could create conflicts of interest, as the government would be both a shareholder and regulator.

Nat Purser of Public Knowledge warned that the government might become less willing to enforce safety rules to protect its investment. Jennifer Huddleston of the Cato Institute raised concerns about government intrusion into private enterprise and free market principles.

Steve Bannon argued the government should take as much as 50% of AI companies' equity to be dispersed to American citizens. The legal mechanism for turning over equity to the government is unclear and may pose an obstacle.

Political Context

Since his second term, Trump has pursued partial government ownership of American companies to a greater degree than previous administrations. The US has made direct investments in at least 10 companies, including a deal with Intel. Trump has stated privately that American taxpayers should benefit from artificial intelligence.

Congress released a bipartisan framework for federal AI regulation, aiming to temporarily preempt state laws.

Industry and Public Concerns

Data center projects face opposition over electricity, water, and environmental impacts. Some states, including Ohio and Virginia, are reconsidering tax incentives for data centers.

A Harvard poll found approximately 70% of college students view AI as a threat to job prospects.

Senator Josh Hawley called for legislation requiring data centers to pay for their own utilities. Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer defended a data center project, citing job creation. Representative Rashida Tlaib criticized the project. Senator Elissa Slotkin noted grassroots opposition to data centers.

Company Background

OpenAI references historical economic shifts, such as the Industrial Age, noting how initiatives like the New Deal facilitated broader opportunity and security through new public institutions, protections, and social safety nets. The company concludes that the transition to superintelligence will require collective action from democratic societies.

Founded as a nonprofit with the goal of AI benefiting all humanity, OpenAI's recent shift to a for-profit entity has prompted scrutiny regarding its mission's compatibility with its financial obligations to shareholders. This framework follows a similar policy blueprint released by Anthropic six months prior. OpenAI president Greg Brockman and other tech billionaires have contributed significantly to super PACs advocating for light-touch AI policies.