Indian-American billionaire and OpenAI investor Vinod Khosla has put forward a significant proposal to address the rising economic inequality anticipated from artificial intelligence (AI). At TechCrunch Disrupt 2025, the founder of Khosla Ventures advocated for the U.S. government to possess a 10 percent stake in each public company, aiming to ensure that the advantages of AI-driven economic growth are more widely distributed throughout society. Khosla pointed out that this initiative could offer a direct avenue for every American to engage in the nation’s collective prosperity, rather than allowing the benefits of AI to be enjoyed solely by a select group of shareholders and executives.
He remarked, “Take 10 percent of every corporation and put it in a national pool for the people, that’s really interesting. Just take 10 percent of every public company.” He indicated that his idea was influenced by recent government actions, noting, “When Trump bought 10 percent of Intel, I wondered if it wasn’t a good idea,” referencing past U.S. government interventions in key industries. Khosla believes this approach could develop into a sustainable model for wealth sharing in the age of artificial general intelligence (AGI). His statements come at a crucial time when policymakers and economists are contemplating the best strategies to alleviate the disruptive effects of AI on employment and income distribution.
Although Universal Basic Income (UBI) has gained popularity as a potential remedy, including pilot programs endorsed by OpenResearch, Khosla contends that direct ownership of corporate profits may be a more effective means of achieving long-term equity. “I’ll get critique for this idea,” he acknowledged, “but bold measures are needed to address the economic shifts that AGI could bring.” He predicts that by 2035, the economy could experience significant deflation due to AI’s revolutionary influence on productivity and costs. In the interim, he insists that governments must focus on policies that guarantee everyone benefits from the considerable value generated by AI.
“We won’t need to do it in 15 years, but we do have to take care of those people,” he said, stressing the importance of immediate action. In addition to economic redistribution, Khosla also explored the future of work in a world dominated by AI. He forecasted that automation will inevitably displace millions of conventional jobs, yet it will also create new opportunities for entrepreneurship. “There’s a startup in building AI for every profession,” he noted, emphasizing prospects in areas such as medicine, accounting, chip design, auditing, marketing, and entertainment.
He raised the question of whether certain types of labor should continue to exist in an automated future, suggesting that repetitive manual work is “servitude to survival” rather than genuine employment. Khosla’s proposal, while unconventional, resonates with a growing sentiment that AI’s vast economic potential must be managed responsibly. As the AI revolution transforms various industries, his advocacy for a government stake in corporate America reignites a critical discussion: how to guarantee that technological advancements benefit all, not just a privileged few.