AI Is a Product of Humanity. Humanity Should Own AI. - Jacobin

Senator Bernie Sanders has proposed a 50% tax on AI companies that would be paid in stock, according to a Jacobin article that endorses the plan. The proposal aims to establish public ownership of AI technologies, which the article argues are products of collective human effort rather than solely private enterprise.

The article, published on the leftist magazine Jacobin, frames the proposal as a necessary corrective to the immense concentration of power and wealth in the AI industry. It argues that AI development has been built upon publicly funded research, data contributed by internet users, and societal infrastructure, creating a moral case for public ownership. The article does not specify enforcement mechanisms or how the stock would be managed, but it presents the tax as a direct way to redistribute the economic benefits of AI.

The proposal arrives amid broader debates about AI regulation and governance, with governments worldwide attempting to address issues of safety, bias, and job displacement. Critics might argue that a 50% stock tax could deter investment and innovation, or face constitutional challenges in the U.S. However, the Jacobin piece presents it as a bold step toward ensuring that AI serves the public interest. As of publication, the proposal has not been formally introduced as legislation, and no major AI companies have responded.