OpenAI in early talks to give 5% stake to US government: Report
The proposal would create a public wealth fund, effectively making American taxpayers silent partners in one of the world's most valuable private companies.
OpenAI is exploring a proposal to give the US government a 5% stake in the company, according to the Financial Times, as AI firms seek closer ties with the Trump administration.
CEO Sam Altman believes public equity ownership could ensure AI-generated wealth reaches a wider population and has suggested other major AI developers adopt a similar approach.
The plan would involve transferring equity into a public investment fund modeled on the Alaska Permanent Fund, allowing citizens to benefit from AI-driven economic growth, according to the report. Discussions are still in the early stages, and any arrangement would likely require congressional approval.
The proposal follows growing government oversight of AI companies, including recent restrictions placed on Anthropic’s models for national security reasons.
Altman has reportedly raised the proposal with President Donald Trump, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, and Senator Bernie Sanders, who has separately advocated for a sovereign wealth fund financed by taxing major AI companies.