Majority of U.S. Workers Support AI Wealth Fund Amid Tech Layoffs
A new survey reveals that a majority of U.S. workers support mandating an AI wealth fund for tech companies. This comes as layoffs surge within the technology sector.
A recent national survey by research firm Verasight indicates that 69% of Americans favor compelling AI firms to transfer 50% of their stock to a public sovereign wealth fund. This sentiment emerges amidst a wave of layoffs in the tech industry, leaving many workers concerned about job security.
Verasight CEO Benjamin Leff stated that the public views AI sovereign wealth funds as a mechanism to redistribute the gains from the AI industry back to society. This aligns with legislative proposals, such as Senator Bernie Sanders' American AI Sovereign Wealth Fund Act, which aims to grant the public a 50% stake in major U.S. AI companies.
Sanders has expressed that the goal of such legislation is to ensure AI's economic benefits improve everyone's lives, not just enrich the wealthiest. He emphasized that the future of AI and humanity should not be dictated solely by a few individuals in Silicon Valley.
Goldman Sachs estimates that AI could displace up to 15 million jobs over the next decade. While acknowledging that AI may eventually create new jobs, the survey highlights widespread worker anxiety and a desire for broader participation in the economic benefits of AI development.