OpenAI Proposes Giving 5% Stake to US Government

OpenAI, the company behind the popular chatbot ChatGPT, is reportedly in early discussions to give a 5% stake in the business to the United States government. According to the Financial Times, this proposal is part of an effort by artificial intelligence companies to build a better relationship with the administration of President Donald Trump. By giving the American public a financial interest in the company, OpenAI hopes to share the economic benefits of its technology more widely.

Sam Altman, the chief executive of OpenAI, has been speaking with President Trump and other top government officials, including commerce secretary Howard Lutnick and treasury secretary Scott Bessent, about this idea. The proposal suggests that the government could hold these shares in a special investment fund, similar to the Alaska Permanent Fund. This fund, which currently manages wealth from oil, invests in stocks and pays dividends—regular payments of money—to the state and its residents. If adopted, this model could provide every citizen with a direct stake in the growth of the AI industry, even if they do not personally invest in financial markets.

This plan comes at a time when major AI companies are facing increasing pressure from Washington. Recent reports from The Guardian note that the government has been taking a stronger role in regulating the industry. For example, the company Anthropic recently had to stop access to its newest model after the government raised concerns about national security and the use of the technology by foreign nationals. While Anthropic has since resolved these issues, the event highlights the growing tension between tech firms and federal regulators.

There is also a broader political context for these discussions. According to Ars Technica, many Americans are becoming more worried about the speed of AI development. Recent polls suggest that a large number of people do not want AI data centers built in their neighborhoods, and many feel more concerned than excited about the technology. With voters across the political spectrum calling for stricter rules, both the Trump administration and tech companies are aware that public opinion could affect future elections. Both sides have argued that if the government creates too many strict rules, it could hurt America's ability to compete with China in the global AI race.

While OpenAI is leading these talks, the proposal is still in the early stages. The Financial Times reports that the plan would ideally involve other major AI firms, such as Google and Meta, giving a similar 5% stake to the government. However, it is not yet clear if these companies are willing to agree to such a deal. Neither Google nor Meta has indicated that they support the idea of giving away a portion of their company. Furthermore, any final agreement would likely require an act of Congress to become law.

Interestingly, the idea of public ownership has also gained attention from other political figures. Senator Bernie Sanders has been pushing for a different approach. He has suggested creating a sovereign wealth fund—a state-owned investment fund—that would be paid for by a one-time 50% tax on the stock of the largest AI companies. While OpenAI’s proposal of a 5% stake is much smaller than what Senator Sanders has proposed, it shows that the concept of sharing AI wealth with the public is becoming a serious topic of debate in Washington.

As OpenAI and other developers prepare to list their companies on the stock market, some investors believe these firms could eventually be worth more than $1 trillion. This massive potential value explains why the government is so interested in how these companies operate. For now, the talks remain conceptual. Whether this 5% stake plan will actually happen, or if it is simply a way for tech companies to gain political favor, remains to be seen. What is clear is that the relationship between the government and the AI industry is changing, and both sides are looking for ways to balance innovation with public safety and economic fairness.