The AI Equity Play
Bridgewater Associates, the massive hedge fund founded by Ray Dalio, is making a major pivot. Instead of just focusing on its own bottom line, the firm is pushing for a new policy: a 'token tax' on AI usage. The plan? Taxing AI giants at a 35% rate, which could generate a massive $600 billion by 2030, and using that cash to buy shares in AI companies for the general public. It's giving "wealth redistribution" in a way that feels totally unexpected from such a secretive, big-money player.
Why the Token Tax?
Bridgewater’s CIO Greg Jensen and CEO Nir Bar Dea are highkey worried about an AI-driven job apocalypse. They aren't trying to push for Universal Basic Income (UBI), which Jensen thinks gives too much power to bureaucrats. Instead, he argues that by giving citizens equity in AI companies, you put the power directly into the hands of the people. Real talk: the goal is to make sure everyday Americans actually see some of the upside from the AI revolution before the tech moves too fast to regulate.
The Industry Reaction
Not everyone is sold on the logistics. Cyril Gorlla, CEO of AI startup CTGT, pointed out that there isn't a "meter" for AI like there is for electricity, so collecting that tax would be a major technical challenge. Still, some experts like George Washington University law professor Jeremy Bearer-Friend say that public equity could give the masses a much-needed seat at the table when it comes to boardroom decisions about safety. Bridgewater is also calling for regulators to conduct sworn interviews with AI lab staff to keep the industry in check.
Why it matters
If AI is going to replace human labor, Bridgewater wants to make sure we don't end up in a situation where machines are incentivized over people. By pushing for these taxes, they’re basically trying to create a safety net for the workforce and keep the AI boom from causing a total societal meltdown—a major W if they can actually pull it off.
