OpenAI Proposes 5% Stake for US Government Amid Trump Talks: FT Report

OpenAI, a leading artificial intelligence company, has reportedly engaged in preliminary discussions about offering a 5% equity stake to the U.S. government, as reported by the Financial Times. This development emerges amidst growing regulatory scrutiny of the AI sector and demands from U.S. officials for the public to benefit from the economic advantages of this technology. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman is said to have argued that this initiative is the optimal way to distribute the wealth generated by artificial intelligence with the public.

According to the Financial Times, OpenAI presented this proposal during early-stage talks with the administration of former U.S. President Donald Trump. Sam Altman reportedly discussed the matter directly with President Donald Trump, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. He is also noted to have engaged with Democratic Senator Bernie Sanders. The proposal is not limited to OpenAI but could extend to other prominent U.S. AI companies, such as Anthropic, Google, and Meta, involving them in ceding similar equity stakes to a public investment vehicle. This investment vehicle might be structured similarly to the Alaska Permanent Fund, which invests the state's oil revenues into stocks and distributes dividends to its citizens.

The timing of this development coincides with a period of intensified regulatory oversight for AI companies in Washington. The U.S. government is taking a more active role in supervising the development and deployment of AI models due to national security concerns. For instance, Anthropic's launch of a new model was delayed at the government's request, and OpenAI's broader release of its GPT-5.6 model also faced delays due to similar demands. Such a stake transfer could help the industry improve its relations with the Trump administration and garner political support by sharing the wealth generated by the AI boom with the public.

Based on OpenAI's most recent valuation of approximately $852 billion, a 5% stake would be worth an estimated $42.6 billion. The U.S. government holding equity in private technology firms is not unprecedented. Last year, a commitment of $8.9 billion to Intel resulted in a 10% ownership stake. This is seen as part of a broader governmental effort to secure critical supply chains and exert greater control in strategic sectors.

Analysts and market observers suggest that such a move could be crucial for AI companies in managing regulatory uncertainties ahead of their potential initial public offerings. Given that both OpenAI and Anthropic are reportedly planning IPOs this year, establishing strong ties with the government and ensuring public benefit from technological advancements could boost investor confidence. However, it is emphasized that these discussions are still in a “conceptual” phase, and any agreement might require an act of Congress for implementation. It remains unclear whether other major AI companies would agree to join OpenAI's proposed arrangement.