APREX · EST. 2026
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman reportedly pitched an unusual idea to President Donald Trump as early as early 2025: that the U.S. government should receive a five percent stake in the company free of charge, as part of an effort to share the economic gains from artificial intelligence with the public. That is according to the Financial Times, citing two sources familiar with the discussions.
A stake valued at over $42 billion
Based on OpenAI's most recent valuation from its March 2026 funding round – at $852 billion – a five percent stake would be worth approximately $42.6 billion, making it one of the most valuable potential government ownership positions in a single technology company in American history.
According to research documentation reviewed by 24AI, the thinking is that several leading U.S. AI companies, including Anthropic, Google, and Meta, would contribute equivalent stakes. These would be pooled into a kind of government investment fund – described as a "sovereign wealth fund" modeled on Alaska's Permanent Fund.
Altman argues, according to the FT, that this is the most effective way to let the general public share in the AI boom, and that it would help ease political opposition to the sector and improve relations with the Trump administration.
The regulator becomes an investor – a clear conflict of interest
Critics are not convinced. Nat Purser, a senior policy adviser on AI policy at the organization Public Knowledge, warns against a situation in which the government's own financial interests could undermine its willingness to enforce safety regulations.
The public should not want a situation where the government becomes less willing to introduce or enforce safety regulations because doing so might reduce the value of its own investments
Although OpenAI has reportedly proposed that the government's stake be passive – with no board seat or voting rights – experts point out that the government would still be able to exert significant influence through contracts, procurement processes, and national security directives. This creates a structural risk that the government could favor companies in which it holds stakes, at the expense of smaller players in the market.
Legal and structural ambiguities
The legal mechanism for carrying out such a stock donation remains unclear. According to source material reviewed by 24AI, establishing a government AI investment fund would likely require dedicated legislation passed by Congress.
The U.S. has one relevant but limited precedent: in 2025, the government received a ten percent stake in Intel worth $8.9 billion. That transaction, however, involved a direct cash payment from the government – not a free transfer that would dilute existing shareholders' ownership, as OpenAI's proposal envisions.
Sanders would rather take the money through taxation
OpenAI's proposal is not the only one circulating in Washington. Senator Bernie Sanders has introduced what he calls the "American AI Sovereign Wealth Fund Act," which would impose a one-time 50 percent tax on the equity value of AI companies with more than $200 million in AI revenues. The shares would be placed in a government fund that gives ordinary Americans voting shares and potential annual payouts – as well as government representation on the companies' boards. This is considerably more interventionist than OpenAI's passive alternative.
Early stage – uncertain outcome
The talks are described as being at an early stage, and it remains unclear what concrete form any potential government ownership would take. International observers have also noted that a close government ownership relationship with leading AI companies could raise questions among allies about the independence of American AI development – a concern that has previously been raised in connection with Chinese technology companies.
OpenAI and the White House have not yet commented publicly on the matter, according to The Verge.