OpenAI CEO Sam Altman is reportedly considering offering the U.S. a 5% equity stake in his artificial intelligence company. The proposal, discussed with former President Donald Trump, is contingent on AI competitors such as Anthropic, Google, and Meta agreeing to contribute a similar percentage of their own companies to the public.
Altman reportedly believes that widespread public ownership of AI companies is the most effective way to distribute the benefits of the rapidly expanding sector across the American populace. He also met with Senator Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., who has proposed significant government ownership of major AI firms through a one-time tax.
Altman's outreach to Trump, which also involved Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, comes as OpenAI prepares for a potential public offering. The move may be an effort to secure favorable government relations and navigate the evolving policy landscape surrounding AI development. The Financial Times reported that Altman is seeking to avoid potential regulatory challenges, drawing a parallel to Intel's experience after the U.S. government purchased a stake in the chip manufacturer.
This initiative follows a pattern of government investments in domestic technology companies, including past acquisitions of stakes in Intel, MP Materials, U.S. Steel, and quantum technology firms. Altman's proposal aims to preemptively address concerns about AI's economic impact and foster a collaborative relationship with the U.S. government as the industry matures.