On February 20th, I attended a session at Stanford University with Senator Bernie Sanders, addressing over 1,600 students about key contemporary issues: inequality and artificial intelligence. This was notably the largest gathering since President Obama visited in 2015. I shared my insights on a new technological social contract and discussed seven fundamental principles for a more equitable AI landscape.
We find ourselves in a modern Gilded Age, where tech billionaires have taken control over our economy, media, and political landscape, acting as if they are heroes from a bygone era.
Many Americans feel disconnected from their own futures and that of their children. This feeling of disempowerment breeds anger, resentment, and considerable cynicism across our nation.
A nation cannot thrive amid prosperity while surrounded by despair.
Professor Gabriel Zucman highlights that wealth concentration today is at historic levels. Around 19 billionaires possess $3.4 trillion, which accounts for about 12.5 percent of the annual U.S. GDP. This concentration of wealth is nearly three times greater than during the previous Gilded Age.
Extreme affluence forms a troubling alliance with political power, resulting in a justice system that favors the elite while silencing ordinary citizens in our democracy.
“You can see the future from here. We understand what’s coming in ways that are lost on much of the political class in Washington. We must ask ourselves: what future are we crafting? Is it meant for just the technological elites or for all of us?”
This town hall was convened right in the heart of AI innovation and wealth concentration. Within a 50-mile radius of my school district lies Stanford, Apple, Google, Nvidia, Broadcom, and Tesla, collectively worth over $18 trillion—nearly a third of the entire U.S. stock market’s valuation. One-third of the nation’s wealth is generated here, influencing the areas surrounding our Congressional districts.
We can visualize the future. We recognize its trajectory, although it remains hidden from many politicians and bureaucrats. The pivotal question is: what future do we envision? Is it solely for the technological elite or for everyone?
That’s why I advocate for a new technological social contract. Those who benefit greatly should contribute fairly.
Let’s acknowledge that public resources supported the development of vital AI technologies at institutions like Dartmouth, MIT, and Stanford, which also contributed to the foundation of Google.
We should celebrate technology entrepreneurs for their risks and creativity, but it’s crucial to remember they built on the legacy of public investment that supported previous generations of successful American entrepreneurs.
We need to focus on what Silicon Valley can do for America rather than the other way around.
The advancements in AI have the potential to revolutionize healthcare, lower housing costs, facilitate business creation, and more. However, concentrated wealth can lead to job loss, profit extraction, and a shift from citizens to consumers.
I’m neither an AI enthusiast nor an opponent; I advocate for a democratic approach to AI.
Thus, I propose seven guiding principles for what democratic AI should embody, which are part of a call for renewed patriotism—one that promotes shared prosperity rather than oligarchic control. I envision an economic patriotism focused on good jobs and a robust middle class in every nook and cranny of our country.
First, it’s vital to keep humans involved.
Mass job displacement is a pressing issue; starting with the approximate 3.5 million truck drivers. Even though self-driving technology may improve safety, human drivers are still essential, just like pilots in aviation. AI should enhance human roles rather than eliminate them.
Second, large corporations must engage in negotiations with their workforce.
Unions and representatives must help displaced workers transition into new, impactful positions and ensure that gains from AI boost wages, profit sharing, and create shorter workweeks.
Third, we should reevaluate tax laws that currently favor automation over human employment.
Hiring workers incurs taxes, while robots enjoy swift depreciation. This disparity is counterproductive; instead, we should incentivize hiring people rather than machines.
An annual data dividend could be a means for citizens to benefit from the data they generate for businesses and government.
Fourth, we need to establish a workforce management agency.
This could help ease the worries of families across the socioeconomic spectrum by implementing bold, patriotic employment policies funded through a reasonable tax targeting vast wealth generated by tech giants and a minimal tax on AI that replaces jobs.
We should mobilize youth to support local communities, improve education, and enhance small businesses, while establishing nearly 1,000 new colleges and technical schools to prepare future generations for sustainable careers.
Fifth, data centers should contribute back to the communities fueling them.
Today, they often strip resources from communities and funnel wealth to the tech elite, which must change.
Technology firms should invest in local resources, offer computing capabilities for schools, generate local tech jobs, and commit to sustainable practices. They need to absorb the actual costs of energy instead of shifting them to local communities.
Sixth, we must prevent AI from manipulating public discourse.
Together, we can curb algorithms that spread hate and misinformation. We should reconsider protections that allow harmful content to flourish online.
Seventh, AI must be regulated to serve humanity.
We need clear and enforceable rules to ensure that powerful AI technologies do not endanger society. Regulation should be as stringent as with nuclear energy or aviation safety.
“We need a program as bold and ambitious as the New Deal—a contemporary democratic initiative that doesn’t stifle innovation but ensures that its benefits are shared by all Americans.”
The U.S. can gain from global access to AI markets by emphasizing safety and data privacy.
These principles present a foundational framework to ensure AI doesn’t fuel inequality and deteriorate democracy. If we accept the current status quo, average Americans will be left behind while modern prosperity accrues to a privileged few.
I’m determined not to let this happen.
We need a movement that matches the boldness of the New Deal—a modern democratic initiative insisting that the benefits of AI belong to the American people.
My challenge to Stanford students—future leaders in technology and business—is straightforward: the trajectory of our future shouldn’t be dictated by AIserving the enrichment of a select few. It should rather be a collaborative effort, bridging our divisions and fostering renewed economic independence for everyone across our nation.
This content is based on Congressman Ro Khanna’s remarks at a town hall with Senator Bernie Sanders held at Stanford University on February 20, 2026.
