OpenAI has reportedly proposed that the U.S. government take an ownership stake in the artificial intelligence company, an idea that has garnered interest from figures associated with the former Trump administration.
This proposal aligns with past actions where the second Trump administration invested in private companies, including obtaining a 10% stake in Intel Corp. and equity in IBM and other quantum-computing firms. Former President Donald Trump has previously expressed interest in the concept of government ownership in AI firms, suggesting it could foster a partnership with the American public.
The idea of a public stake in AI companies has also been advanced by others. Independent Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders has proposed legislation for a one-time 50% tax on major U.S. AI firms, with the proceeds establishing a sovereign wealth fund that would grant the public direct ownership. In April, OpenAI outlined a similar concept in a policy paper, suggesting a "Public Wealth Fund" to provide all citizens with a stake in AI-driven economic growth, with potential distributions of returns directly to citizens.