OpenAI has reportedly proposed granting the U.S. government a 5 percent ownership stake in the company as part of a broader initiative aimed at sharing the economic benefits of artificial intelligence while addressing growing political scrutiny in Washington.
According to a report by the Financial Times, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman raised the idea during discussions with the Trump administration, suggesting that the government hold equity in leading American AI companies through a dedicated investment vehicle.
Neither OpenAI nor the White House has officially commented on the reported proposal.
Proposal Could Value Government Stake at More Than $42 Billion
Based on OpenAI’s most recent valuation, a 5 per cent stake would be worth approximately $42.6 billion.
The company reached a reported post-money valuation of $852 billion after completing a record-breaking funding round in March, making it one of the world’s most valuable private technology companies.
According to the report, Altman believes public ownership would allow Americans to directly benefit from the rapid growth of artificial intelligence rather than limiting those gains to private investors.
The proposal reportedly extends beyond OpenAI.
Under the reported framework, the U.S. government would also receive similar ownership stakes in several major domestic AI developers through a sovereign wealth fund or comparable government investment vehicle.
Companies mentioned in the report include Anthropic, Google, and Meta.
It remains unclear whether any of those companies have been approached or would support such an arrangement.
Representatives for OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, Meta, and the White House had not publicly responded to requests for comment at the time the report was published.
AI Industry Faces Growing Government Scrutiny
The reported discussions come as U.S. policymakers increase oversight of the rapidly expanding artificial intelligence sector.
Government officials have raised concerns about cybersecurity risks, national security implications, and the growing competitiveness of Chinese AI models, many of which have become increasingly capable while offering lower operating costs than some leading American systems.
These developments have intensified efforts to establish policies that balance technological innovation with national security and economic interests.
The AI industry has also been affected by recent U.S. export control measures.
Last month, Anthropic temporarily restricted access to its most advanced Mythos and Fable AI models to comply with government requirements. The company later announced that access had been restored after implementing measures that addressed regulatory concerns.
The episode highlighted the increasingly close relationship between AI developers and government policymakers as advanced AI technologies become strategically important.
Public Wealth Fund Idea Continues to Evolve
The reported government equity proposal follows earlier ideas from OpenAI on broader public participation in AI-driven economic growth.
In April, the company proposed establishing a public wealth fund to hold assets linked to artificial intelligence companies and to distribute long-term financial benefits to the public.
Reports indicate that discussions surrounding a potential government investment in OpenAI have been ongoing for more than a year, with Altman first presenting the concept to officials in early 2025.
Government Investments Already Have Precedent
The U.S. government has recently taken equity positions in several strategic industries, including semiconductor manufacturing and quantum technology.
Last year, the government acquired a 10 percent stake in Intel following a multibillion-dollar investment aimed at strengthening domestic chip production. Similar investments have also been made in companies involved in quantum computing and critical mineral development.
Supporters of government ownership argue that strategic investments can strengthen national competitiveness while allowing taxpayers to share in the financial gains generated by emerging technologies.
Although OpenAI’s reported proposal remains under discussion, it reflects the growing importance of artificial intelligence in shaping both economic policy and national technology strategy in the United States.
