They're very much not. They have high valuations, but very few employees. Very different to the banks (where the public would lose money) and the car firms (who employed large numbers of workers)

They already are! The government signed exclusive military contracts with OpenAI to develop autonomous weapons. Half of these AI companies are being propped up with taxpayer dollars in the form of government contracts or subsidies, or the promise that there will be a taxpayer revenue stream coming their way in the near future.

Are you new here? The government will absolutely compensate the companies when the bubble bursts.

The point being, if the public owns half of the company but the company is failing, now the public has acquired 50% liability of a dying business.

Like others said though, I'm sure taxpayers will be on the hook either way.