The proposal puts El-Sayed in line with Sen. Bernie Sanders, who has pushed for a plan that would give the public an ownership stake in major AI companies
In a June 12 episode of the Head in the Office podcast, Abdul El-Sayed said he was in favor of public ownership of artificial intelligence companies, a position that would give the government and the public a direct stake in privately owned AI firms.
When asked by podcast host if the he would support public ownership models El-Sayed doubled down and said he would support public control of these companies.
“I would go a step further,” he said. “I agree that we need public ownership but I also agree we need some system of public control. What is the point of demcracy if it is to not protect us from existential risk?”
El-Sayed has argued that AI poses an unprecedented threat to American workers and society and therefore should be treated differently from other industries.
The proposal puts El-Sayed in line with Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., who has pushed for a plan that would give the public an ownership stake in major AI companies. Sanders proposed transferring a portion of AI companies’ equity into public hands through his American AI Sovereign Wealth Fund Act.
El-Sayed has embraced the idea, calling Sanders’ approach “a really good way forward,” per Bridge Michigan.
The Michigan Democrat has since gone further with his own AI platform. His campaign announced an “AI Under Democracy” proposal calling for democratic ownership and governance of the technology. The plan would give Americans a greater stake in AI companies while imposing additional regulations on the industry.
El-Sayed’s position comes as he campaigns as one of the most progressive candidates in the Michigan Senate Democratic primary. His support for public ownership of AI has drawn attention from conservatives, particularly as the debate over government involvement in private industry becomes a growing issue in the 2026 election.