OpenAI Proposes 5 Percent Government Stake to Align AI Growth with Public Interest

OpenAI has proposed handing the US government a five percent equity stake in the company, according to reports from the Financial Times. The offer, discussed directly with President Trump and senior cabinet officials, would give Washington a financial interest in the artificial intelligence boom.

At OpenAI's current valuation of $852 billion, a five percent share would be worth more than $42 billion. The talks, described as early and conceptual, have been under way for more than a year, people familiar with the discussions told the Financial Times.

Sovereign wealth fund model for AI

The proposal goes beyond a single company. OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman has floated the idea of requiring all leading US AI developers to contribute five percent of their equity to a shared investment vehicle. The model is the Alaska Permanent Fund, which collects state oil revenue, invests it, and pays dividends to residents and the government.

Key elements of the reported plan include:

• Altman negotiating directly with President Trump, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, as well as Democratic Senator Bernie Sanders.
• Sanders is pushing for a far larger public stake of nearly 50 percent in every US AI company through a sovereign wealth fund.
• OpenAI first proposed a similar concept in April under the name "public wealth fund," aiming to give every citizen a share of AI-driven economic growth.
• Implementing the plan would likely require an act of Congress, the Financial Times reports.
• Critics see the move as a way to insulate the company from bad economic bets, since a government stake could make a bailout more likely if OpenAI's finances sour.

Political and market implications

The offer could blunt public backlash against AI, which has recently centered on cybersecurity risks. The job market may become the next flashpoint if the industry's own predictions of mass unemployment prove accurate. By giving the government a direct financial stake, OpenAI would tie its fortunes to public policy, potentially softening opposition.

OpenAI declined to comment to the Financial Times. The White House did not respond to a request for comment. The talks remain in a conceptual stage, and it is unclear what, if anything, the government would provide in return. If the plan moves forward, it would mark a significant shift in the relationship between Silicon Valley's most valuable startup and the federal government.