OpenAI has proposed granting the United States government a 5% ownership stake in the company, a move aimed at easing growing political pressure in Washington and aligning public interests with the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence technology, according to a report by the Financial Times cited in the source material.
The proposed stake would be valued at approximately $42.6 billion based on OpenAI’s reported $852 billion post-money valuation following a record funding round completed in March. The suggestion was reportedly made during early discussions between OpenAI Chief Executive Officer Sam Altman and officials in the Trump administration, with Altman arguing that public ownership would help ensure that the economic benefits of artificial intelligence are more broadly shared.
According to the Financial Times report referenced in the source material, Altman positioned the proposal as a mechanism to give the public a direct financial interest in the development and expansion of advanced AI systems. It remains unclear whether the White House intends to pursue or formally respond to the proposal, and neither OpenAI nor the administration provided immediate comment when contacted by CNBC, as cited in the reporting.
The proposal also reportedly envisions a broader framework in which other major U.S. artificial intelligence companies could be encouraged to provide similar equity stakes to the government. However, the extent to which competing AI firms would participate in such an arrangement remains uncertain, according to the Financial Times.
The discussion comes amid increasing government scrutiny of the rapidly expanding AI sector and its economic and national security implications. The source material notes that the U.S. government already holds a 10% stake in Intel Corporation following a multibillion-dollar investment in the semiconductor company’s common stock, highlighting a precedent for direct government equity participation in strategic technology industries.
Public commentary from President Donald Trump, as cited in the source material, has previously suggested support for government ownership stakes in major AI firms. In June, he described such arrangements as potentially beneficial, framing them as a way for Americans to become “partners” in the ongoing technological transformation driven by artificial intelligence.
The Financial Times report also referenced earlier remarks attributed to Trump indicating that a larger government stake in technology companies could be desirable, reinforcing political interest in expanding state involvement in key strategic sectors.
The proposal by OpenAI emerges as policymakers in Washington continue to debate how best to regulate, support, and potentially share in the economic gains of artificial intelligence. While the idea of direct government equity in private AI firms remains under consideration, the outcome of discussions between industry leaders and the administration has not yet been determined, according to the information provided in the source material.
