OpenAI CEO Sam Altman met privately this week with Senator Bernie Sanders in a nearly hourlong session in Sanders’ Senate office to discuss the Vermont senator’s proposal that the public should take a 50 percent ownership stake in major AI companies through a public wealth fund. According to people familiar with the conversation, Altman told Sanders he supports the idea of public equity in AI firms but could not back Sanders’ 50 percent threshold and offered to work with him on the broader concept.
The meeting underscored growing pressure on AI companies from lawmakers and voters even as opinions diverge over how to share the industry’s gains. The discussion came as President Donald Trump publicly embraced the notion of giving Americans a stake in AI, telling reporters on Air Force One that he sees “a partnership where the American people can benefit from the success of AI” and that executives from leading AI firms would visit the White House “probably next week” to discuss the idea.
The debate is spilling beyond Capitol Hill. Altman’s recent appearances have drawn pushback at local levels, notably in Michigan where he joined Governor Gretchen Whitmer at the site of a 1.65 million-square-foot data center that Whitmer’s office said would create more than 2,500 union construction jobs. Activists and some Democrats, including Representative Rashida Tlaib, criticized the project; Tlaib called it “disgusting.” Missouri Senator Josh Hawley urged a moratorium on data center development until companies agree to cover their own electricity, grid and water costs, telling The Associated Press that stronger rules are needed.
Altman acknowledged widespread unease, saying, “This is a real change to society” and noting people can both embrace AI and feel anxious about its effects. He also conceded that while “the impact on jobs has been less than many people in our field expected,” college students in particular remain worried; a 2025 poll from the Institute of Politics at the Harvard Kennedy School found about 70 percent of students view AI as a threat to job prospects.
In Washington, Altman also met with White House science adviser Michael Kratsios and congressional leaders from both parties as lawmakers seek an “AI bargain.” Sanders’ team said no agreement was reached on the key points, including the 50 percent proposal-Sanders spokesperson Jeremy Slevin said, “Unfortunately, Sam Altman did not commit to any of those.” Altman described the meeting as “great,” adding that the two “obviously don’t agree on everything.”
At the same time, Congress released a bipartisan framework this week aimed at a broad federal approach to AI regulation, the White House signed an executive order to review national security risks from advanced systems, and competitors like Anthropic have proposed coordinated pause mechanisms for powerful AI development. Sanders said the administration’s steps were notable, adding, “Even these guys are beginning to catch on that there are legitimate concerns that have to be dealt with.”
Original Source: https://theshillongtimes.com/2026/06/07/washington-politicians-hunt-for-stake-in-ai-boom/
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Publish Date: 2026-06-07 05:58:00
