OpenAI proposes 5% US government stake worth $42.6bn amid mounting regulatory pressure

OpenAI proposes handing Trump administration 5% stake

OpenAI has discussed giving a 5 per cent stake to the US government as the $852bn AI start-up seeks to clear political obstacles by securing financial buy-in from the Trump administration. Sam Altman, chief executive of the ChatGPT maker, has argued that giving the public a financial stake in the company is the best way to share the upside of AI and has suggested a stake of this size in early conversations with the administration, according to two people familiar with the talks. The proposed arrangement would involve other US AI companies handing over a similar stake, although it is not clear if the other labs would be willing to do so. Giving the government an ownership stake could help secure good relations with the administration and would mark an attempt to address political blowback by sharing the wealth generated by AI with the public. AI labs have faced an increasingly challenging environment in Washington as the American public and politicians grow more concerned about vast data centre construction and the implications of AI for jobs and cyber security. OpenAI and its chief rival Anthropic have recently both had the release of their cutting-edge models held up by US scrutiny, while some Republicans and advisers to President Donald Trump favour much tighter regulation of the sector. The two rivals are also preparing for public listings, which would expand their ownership base and generate big gains for current investors, although OpenAI's float may not take place until next year. Altman and other OpenAI executives have suggested that each of America's leading AI developers allot 5 per cent of their equity to a vehicle like the Alaska Permanent Fund, a sovereign fund that invests the state's oil wealth into stocks and pays dividends to the state government and residents. These companies might include Anthropic as well as Google, Meta and others, although it is not clear any of these groups would agree with OpenAI's proposal. After publicly attacking Intel's chief, Trump has swung behind the US chipmaker after the government took a 10 per cent stake. "Conceptual" talks between the government and OpenAI were in the early stages, and any deal might require an act of Congress to implement, the people said. But the discussions point to a potential mechanism to distribute the financial gains from the technology. Altman has been in active talks with the administration about the issue of public ownership, including Trump, commerce secretary Howard Lutnick and Treasury secretary Scott Bessent, according to multiple people familiar with the matter. The OpenAI chief has also spoken to Democratic Senator Bernie Sanders in recent weeks. Sanders has pushed for public ownership of closer to half of each US AI company through a sovereign wealth fund. OpenAI and Anthropic have previously suggested in economic policy proposals that arrangements such as public or sovereign wealth funds may be required in future to distribute shares to the public. In April, OpenAI proposed a "public wealth fund" that "provides every citizen -- including those not invested in financial markets -- with a stake in AI-driven economic growth". The OpenAI Foundation, the company's non-profit arm, said in May that in an AI-led future, "society will likely need new approaches that give people durable stakes in the systems creating value", pointing to public or sovereign wealth funds. "The goal is not only to support people through economic change after decisions have already been made, but to give them a stake and a voice in shaping how that change unfolds," the foundation said in a blog. OpenAI declined to comment. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Additional reporting by Joe Miller in Washington

OpenAI proposes 5% stake to Trump administration to ease Washington pressure: report

OpenAI has proposed handing the U.S. government a 5% stake in the company, the Financial Times reported Thursday, as the artificial intelligence startup seeks to defuse mounting political pressure in Washington. A 5% holding would be worth roughly $42.6 billion, after the AI fab closed a record-breaking funding round in March at a post-money valuation of $852 billion. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman suggested a stake of that size in early conversations with the Trump administration, the FT reported, citing two people familiar with the talks. It is not clear whether the administration intends to pursue the stake. Altman has argued that giving the public a financial interest in the company is the best way to share the upside of AI, according to the report. The White House and Anthropic did not immediately respond to CNBC's requests for comments. The proposed arrangement envisions other U.S. AI companies ceding similar stakes to the government, though it's unclear whether rival labs would participate, the FT said. The U.S. government holds a 10% stake in Intel Corp after an $8.9 billion investment in the chipmaker's common stock. In May, President Donald Trump said he should have asked for a bigger stake in the company. In June, Trump said that the U.S. taking an ownership stake in AI giants would be "a beautiful thing" and make Americans "partners in this revolution." The White House and OpenAI did not immediately respond to CNBC's requests for comments.

OpenAI has reportedly offered Washington a 5% stake worth $42.6bn

The proposal, described by the Financial Times, would see the government hold equity through a new public wealth vehicle rather than pay cash for it. OpenAI has proposed handing the US government a 5% equity stake in the company, according to the Financial Times, as the White House and Silicon Valley's best-funded startup edge closer to a deal that has been under discussion for more than a year. At OpenAI's $852bn valuation, struck in its record-breaking March funding round, a 5% holding would be worth roughly $42.6bn. Two people familiar with the talks told the FT that chief executive Sam Altman has argued giving the public a financial interest in OpenAI is the best way to share the upside of artificial intelligence. That framing tracks with OpenAI's own public statements since early this year, when Altman first floated the idea of a government stake directly to the Trump administration. The structure being discussed reportedly involves a so-called public wealth fund, a vehicle OpenAI first sketched out in an April policy paper that proposed pooling equity donations from AI companies and distributing the resulting economic benefit to citizens. Under that framework, OpenAI would donate shares rather than sell them, which would avoid a direct cash outlay from the government and sidestep, at least on paper, questions about how a private company transfers equity to the federal government in the first place. The FT's report, says the proposed arrangement envisions other US AI companies ceding similar stakes through the same vehicle. Anthropic, Google and Meta were named as potentially participating, though it remains unclear whether any of them would actually agree to OpenAI's terms, and none has commented publicly on the proposal. The politics around the idea are messier than the mechanics. Senator Bernie Sanders has pushed a competing and considerably more aggressive plan, the American AI Sovereign Wealth Fund Act, which would impose a one-time 50% stock tax on large AI companies to seed a fund the senator's office projects could reach $7 trillion. Palantir's Alex Karp has argued that OpenAI's voluntary 5% offer will look modest next to Sanders' proposal, and that full nationalisation of frontier AI companies is coming regardless of which version wins first. Where the two plans agree is on the underlying premise, that a handful of AI companies are about to become extraordinarily large and that the public should hold some claim on that value before it fully accrues to private shareholders. Where they diverge is on consent and scale. OpenAI is offering a small slice voluntarily, structured to look like a donation, while Sanders wants a mandatory transfer worth ten times as much, paid in stock rather than cash and backed by the threat of legislation rather than a company's own initiative. OpenAI's ownership structure already complicates any transfer of this kind. The company completed a recapitalisation last year that split it into a nonprofit foundation and a for-profit public benefit corporation, with the foundation retaining a 26% stake and legal control over the business. Layering a government-held 5% stake on top of that structure would require decisions about where the new shares sit, what voting rights attach to them, and whether the foundation's existing control provisions would need renegotiating to accommodate a new, politically sensitive shareholder. None of this resolves the practical questions that have stalled the idea for more than a year. How a private company transfers equity to the Treasury, who administers the resulting fund, and whether Congress would even need to authorise such a vehicle are all unsettled, and OpenAI's own restructuring into a public benefit corporation under nonprofit oversight already complicates the ownership picture considerably. The FT's sources gave no timeline for when, or whether, the proposal moves from talking point to signed agreement, and neither the White House nor OpenAI had confirmed the specific terms on the record at the time of the report.

OpenAI 'in early talks to give 5% stake to US government'

CEO Sam Altman argued move would share benefits of AI and it would involve other firms doing similar, report says OpenAI is reportedly in early stage talks to give a 5% stake in the ChatGPT developer to the US government as artificial intelligence companies attempt to smooth relations with Donald Trump's administration. The OpenAI chief executive, Sam Altman, has argued that giving the US public a financial stake in the company is the best way to share the benefits of AI, according to the Financial Times, which cited two unnamed people familiar with the discussions. The proposal would also involve other US AI companies giving a similar stake to the government, the FT reported, although it is not clear yet whether companies such as Anthropic, Google and Meta would agree to the plan. Such a deal would help improve the industry's relations with the Trump administration and could help garner political support by sharing wealth generated by the AI boom with the public. The proposal comes amid growing pressure from Washington on US AI companies. Last month Anthropic suspended its newest model after the government ordered it to curtail access for foreign nationals, on national security grounds. This week it said it had restored customer access to the model after resolving the government's safety concerns. Altman and other OpenAI bosses have suggested that each of the biggest AI developers in the US should give 5% to their equity to an investment vehicle such as the Alaska Permanent Fund, a sovereign fund that invests US oil wealth into stocks and pays dividends to the state, the FT reported. The talks are "conceptual" and in early stages, it said, and any deal could require an act of Congress to implement. Both OpenAI and Anthropic have previously suggested in policy papers that a public or sovereign wealth fund may be required in the future to distribute shares to the public. In April, OpenAI said that a "public wealth fund" could provide "every citizen - including those not invested in financial markets - with a stake in AI-driven economic growth". OpenAI and Anthropic are preparing to list on the US stock market, in moves that some investors believe could value both companies at more than $1tn (£751m). Altman has been in talks about public ownership with Trump, as well as commerce secretary Howard Lutnick and treasury secretary Scott Bessent, according to the FT, citing unnamed people familiar with the matter. He has also reportedly spoken with the Democratic senator Bernie Sanders in recent weeks. The senator has been pushing for the creation of a sovereign wealth fund overseen by an independent commission and financed through a one-time 50% tax on the stock of the biggest AI companies. OpenAI was approached for comment.

OpenAI Weighs US Government Stake Amid AI Regulation Push

OpenAI has reportedly discussed giving the US government a 5% equity stake in early Trump administration talks as Washington tightens AI model oversight. OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, has reportedly discussed giving the US government a 5% equity stake as artificial intelligence oversight in Washington intensifies. The company raised the idea in early discussions with the Trump administration as it seeks to navigate a tougher political environment ahead of a potential public listing, the Financial Times reported on Thursday, citing people familiar with the matter. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman argued that giving the public a financial stake in the company would be the best way to share the economic benefits of the booming AI industry. The report comes weeks after OpenAI announced it had confidentially submitted an S-1 for a US initial public offering, joining Anthropic in preparing for a Wall Street debut this year. It also comes as the US government takes a more active role in overseeing advanced AI models. Proposal extends to other AI companies The proposal would see several leading US AI companies contribute a 5% equity stake to a public investment vehicle. However, it remains unclear whether companies such as Anthropic, Google and Meta would support the idea. The Financial Times reported that Altman modeled the proposal on Alaska's Permanent Fund, which invests the state's oil revenue into stocks and pays dividends to residents. Under a similar approach, Americans could share in the economic gains generated by AI. According to the report, Altman has been in talks with President Donald Trump, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. He also reportedly spoke with Sen. Bernie Sanders, who in June proposed a one-time 50% tax on the stock of the largest AI companies to create a nearly $7 trillion sovereign wealth fund for Americans. Source: Vivek Sen Washington steps up AI oversight The White House is preparing voluntary standards for frontier AI models following its intervention in the rollout of recent systems from OpenAI and Anthropic. The guidance is expected to be announced as early as next week and would set security benchmarks, establish review timelines and clarify who can access the most advanced AI models in the US and abroad. The Trump administration reportedly requested a staggered rollout of OpenAI's GPT-5.6 and temporarily imposed export controls on Anthropic's latest models over cybersecurity concerns before lifting the restrictions. Cointelegraph reached out to OpenAI for comment on the reported discussions but had not received a response by the time of publication.

Sam Altman wants to give a 5% OpenAI stake to the US government: Report

OpenAI is reportedly exploring a 5% equity stake for the U.S. government, a move aimed at easing political concerns and fostering ties with the Trump administration. CEO Sam Altman believes this approach would democratize AI's economic benefits. The proposal, which could extend to other major AI firms, seeks to address growing scrutiny over the industry's impact and ensure public participation in AI-generated wealth. Sam Altman's OpenAI has discussed offering a 5% equity stake to the U.S. government as the AI company seeks to ease political hurdles and strengthen ties with the Trump administration, the Financial Times reported, citing people familiar with the discussions. According to the report, OpenAI Chief Executive Sam Altman has argued that giving the public a financial stake in the company would be the best way to share the economic benefits of artificial intelligence. He has floated the idea of a 5% stake in early discussions with administration officials. US MarketsPowered By As on 02 Jul 2026, 01:30 AM IST S&P 500 Top Gainers AppLovin564.61(9.58%) Coinbase Global159.24(8.93%) Meta Platforms612.91(8.81%) General Mills37.77(8.53%) Gainers" S&P 500 Top Losers Corning220.63(-13.62%) KLA266.19(-11.77%) Teradyne427.34(-11.68%) Micron Technology1,032(-10.57%) Losers" The proposal would also see other leading U.S. AI companies hand over a similar shareholding, although it remains unclear whether any of them would support such a move. The report said a government stake could help OpenAI maintain a favourable relationship with the administration while also addressing political concerns by allowing the public to participate in the wealth created by AI. Also Read | OpenAI spices things up with Jalapeno chips: Why the Sam Altman-led AI startup is building its own process Government scrutiny AI companies have come under increasing scrutiny in Washington as policymakers and the public raise concerns over large-scale data centre expansion, job displacement and cybersecurity risks associated with artificial intelligence. OpenAI and rival Anthropic have both recently faced delays in launching their most advanced AI models due to U.S. regulatory scrutiny. At the same time, some Republicans and advisers to President Donald Trump have been pushing for tighter oversight of the industry, the report said. Both companies are also preparing for public listings, which would broaden their shareholder base and generate substantial gains for existing investors. However, OpenAI's IPO is not expected before next year. Also Read | Donald Trump, Bernie Sanders and Sam Altman are all talking about public ownership in AI Will other tech giants join?According to the Financial Times, Altman and other OpenAI executives have suggested that America's leading AI developers allocate 5% of their equity to a vehicle similar to the Alaska Permanent Fund, which invests the state's oil revenues and distributes dividends to the government and residents. The proposal could potentially apply to companies including Anthropic, Google and Meta, although it is not known whether any of them would agree. The report noted that after publicly criticising Intel's chief executive, Trump later backed the chipmaker after the U.S. government acquired a 10% stake in the company. The discussions between OpenAI and the government remain at a conceptual stage, the report said, adding that any such arrangement could require Congressional approval. Even so, the talks indicate one possible approach to distributing the financial gains generated by AI. The Financial Times reported that Altman has discussed public ownership of AI companies with President Trump, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. The OpenAI chief has also held discussions in recent weeks with Democratic Senator Bernie Sanders, who has advocated public ownership of as much as half of each U.S. AI company through a sovereign wealth fund. OpenAI and Anthropic have previously suggested in economic policy proposals that public or sovereign wealth funds could eventually be used to distribute ownership stakes to citizens. In April, OpenAI proposed creating a "public wealth fund" that would "provide every citizen, including those not invested in financial markets, with a stake in AI-driven economic growth." The company's non-profit arm, the OpenAI Foundation, reiterated the idea in May, saying that an AI-driven future would likely require new mechanisms to give people a lasting stake in systems that create value. It pointed to public or sovereign wealth funds as one possible solution, adding that the objective was not only to support people through economic change but also to give them a stake and a voice in shaping that transition.

OpenAI: OpenAI offers 5% stake to Trump administration: report

The proposed arrangement would involve other U.S. AI companies handing over a similar stake to ⁠the government, The Financial Times reported, adding that ⁠it was not clear if the other AI firms would be willing to do so. ChatGPT maker OpenAI is reportedly planning to handover a 5% stake to the U.S. government. The proposed arrangement would involve other U.S. AI companies handing over a similar stake to ⁠the government, The Financial Times reported, adding that ⁠it was not clear if the other AI firms would be willing to do so. The move is likely to reignite questions about who should benefit from the rapid growth of artificial intelligence and how closely governments should be tied to the industry's biggest players. As per the report, the proposal emerged during discussions around OpenAI's ongoing efforts to restructure its corporate governance and secure support from the U.S. government. The report said the idea was presented as a way to align the company's interests with those of the country as AI becomes an increasingly strategic technology. Neither OpenAI nor the White House immediately commented on the report. If implemented, such a stake could be worth tens of billions of dollars, depending on OpenAI's valuation, making it one of the most significant government holdings in a private technology company. While governments around the world are racing to regulate artificial intelligence, they are simultaneously investing in AI infrastructure and viewing the technology as critical to economic growth and national security. The development comes as OpenAI continues to reshape its corporate structure while competing with rivals to build increasingly powerful AI models.

OpenAI in talks to give U.S. government 5% stake - report By Investing.com

Investing.com -- OpenAI has proposed giving the U.S. government a 5% stake in the company, the Financial Times reported on Thursday, as the artificial intelligence company seeks to ease political pressure from Washington. OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman suggested a stake of that size in early conversations with the Trump administration, the FT said, citing two people familiar with the talks. Altman has argued that giving the public a financial stake in the company is the best way to share the upside of artificial intelligence. The proposed arrangement would involve other U.S. AI companies handing over a similar stake, although it is not clear if those companies would be willing to do so, the FT said. It is not clear whether the Trump administration intends to pursue the stake. Giving the U.S. government an ownership stake could help OpenAI secure good relations with Washington and would mark an attempt to address political backlash by sharing wealth generated by the technology with the public. Separately, the U.S. government is in advanced talks with AI companies to create voluntary standards for the release of new models, following a series of interventions from the Trump administration in June, the FT said, citing people familiar with the talks. The standards, which could be announced as soon as next week, would set benchmarks for models with advanced cyber capabilities and establish release timelines to streamline future launches.