Michigan Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed said he wanted to "take it a step further" when asked whether he supported Bernie Sanders' public-ownership model for major artificial intelligence companies, arguing for "some system of public control" — days after a top House Democrat rejected suggestions that young socialists are talking about "seizing the means of production."Asked during a June 12 appearance on the left-wing "Head in the Office" podcast whether he supported public ownership models for major artificial intelligence companies like one proposed by Sanders, El-Sayed said he wanted to "actually take it a step further," adding that while he agreed "we need public ownership," he also believed "we need some system of public control."El-Sayed did not explicitly call for the government to seize or take ownership of private AI companies, instead describing possible forms of "public control" that included public representation on corporate boards or an oversight body.EL-SAYED TAUNTS TRUMP, CLAIMS HE'S GOING TO MAKE HIM ‘MAIN CHARACHTER OF THE MIDTERMS’U.S.Sen.
Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., stands with Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed after speaking at Mumford High School on May 3, 2026 in Detroit, Mich.(Sarah Rice/Getty Images)"I want to actually take it a step further.
I agree that we need public ownership, but I also agree that we need some system of public control.What is the point of democracy if it's not to protect us from existential risk? And, right now, there is no regulation," El-Sayed said when asked about public ownership and public control of major AI companies, with the podcast host citing proposals from Sanders."I just think it’s really important for us to be thinking what is democratic control over this industry? What does it look like?" El-Sayed continued.El-Sayed later offered examples of what such "public control" could look like, including public representation on corporate boards or a public oversight body over the companies, while ar...