Robinhood's Vlad Tenev Addresses Bernie Sanders' AI Concerns: Says This Is Why We Need To Give 'Retail Investors Exposure To Private AI Companies' - Robinhood Markets (NASDAQ:HOOD)

Core Viewpoint - Robinhood's CEO, Vlad Tenev, emphasizes the need for retail investors to gain exposure to private AI companies to address economic exclusion concerns among Americans [2][3][4]. Group 1: Political Backlash Against AI - Tenev responds to Senator Bernie Sanders' concerns regarding the societal impact of AI data centers and the fears surrounding job displacement due to AI [1][4]. - He highlights that the growing sentiment of economic exclusion is driving public backlash against AI advancements [2][4]. Group 2: Retail Investor Access to AI - Tenev advocates for providing retail investors with stakes in leading private AI companies, which are currently inaccessible due to their private status [3][4]. - Robinhood plans to launch a new fund through its subsidiary, Robinhood Ventures, to allow retail investors to invest in a concentrated portfolio of top private AI firms [5]. Group 3: Tokenization of Private Shares - The company has been promoting the tokenization of private company shares to enhance retail access to high-growth firms like SpaceX and Stripe [6]. - Tenev notes that existing accredited investor rules exclude over 80% of the public from participating in these investment opportunities, calling for comprehensive securities legislation [6]. Group 4: Stock Performance - Robinhood's shares increased by 1.17% to close at $117.16, with a further rise of 2.45% overnight, indicating positive momentum and growth potential [6].