Artificial intelligence is transforming the economy, but many commercial AI systems have been built using work created by people: writing, code, art, journalism, research, educational material, public discussions, documentation, and other forms of human knowledge.

That work did not appear out of nowhere. People created it. In many cases, they shared it publicly for reading, learning, search, or discussion — not so that it could become free raw material for commercial AI systems without broad public compensation.

We support AI innovation. AI can benefit society in many important ways. This petition is not about stopping AI. It is about making sure the public shares in the economic gains created from the collective human knowledge that helped make modern AI possible.

Congress should introduce The Public AI Trust and Dividend Act, which would create a federally chartered Public AI Trust. The Trust could be funded through appropriate mechanisms such as commercial AI royalties, compute levies, collective licensing fees, or public equity warrants from large-scale AI companies.

Net proceeds should be distributed to citizens as a recurring Citizen AI Dividend and used to support public access to AI tools, education, research, and economic opportunity.

 
AI is built on human knowledge. If commercial AI systems convert that knowledge into private capital, the public should receive a capital ownership claim on the returns.