APREX · EST. 2026
A potential government ownership stake in the world's most talked-about AI company is no longer mere speculation. According to the Financial Times, as reported by Digi.no, OpenAI has actively discussed offering the U.S. federal government 5 percent of the company — a company currently valued at $852 billion.
A Historic Shift in American Industrial Policy
This is not the first time the current Trump administration has taken direct ownership positions in private companies. According to research data cited by Digi.no, the U.S. government has since January 2025 invested a total of $26.7 billion across thirty separate direct-ownership deals.
Among the most prominent examples is an $8.9 billion investment in semiconductor company Intel in August 2025, which gave the government a 9.9 percent stake. In July 2025, the Department of Defense bought into rare-earth minerals company MP Materials for $400 million, equivalent to a 15 percent stake.
Former White House adviser Peter E. Harrell has described the Intel deal as a marked break with decades of American policy, in which the government has traditionally preferred grants and tax incentives over direct ownership.
What Is Driving the Proposal?
The background to OpenAI's reported proposal is multifaceted. According to the research material, the motivations are tied to national security, control over advanced AI models, a desire for Americans to share in the economic gains from the AI sector, and the imperative to maintain technological dominance over China.
The concept was originally floated by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman in 2025. A central element is the idea of a public wealth fund or a form of "digital dividend" for citizens.
The idea is that ordinary Americans should share in the value created by AI — not just the tech companies and their investors.
Uncertainty Around Other AI Giants
There is speculation about whether other major AI players might follow suit. The research material notes that discussions have taken place involving companies such as Anthropic, Google, and Meta, but it remains unclear whether these firms are willing to agree to similar arrangements.
It is also worth noting that these direct investments differ fundamentally from investments made by the CIA-affiliated In-Q-Tel. In-Q-Tel is an independent, nonprofit venture fund established by the intelligence agency in 1999, but does not represent government ownership in the classical sense.
Political Debate Over Government AI Ownership
The approach is not without political opposition. Senator Bernie Sanders has put forward a far more radical proposal: a one-time levy of 50 percent of the shares in the largest AI companies, paid in stock, to be managed by a government wealth fund.
The ongoing debate shows that the question of who should own and regulate the world's most influential AI systems is becoming a central political flashpoint in the United States — with potential ripple effects far beyond the country's borders.