OpenAI is reportedly considering offering the US government a 5% equity stake, a proposal aimed.
At ensuring Americans share in the economic gains from artificial intelligence, according to a report by the Financial Times. The discussions are said to be at a preliminary, conceptual stage.
The idea aligns with CEO Sam Altman’s long-standing view that the benefits of AI should be distributed more broadly. Altman has previously backed concepts such as a public wealth fund that would allow citizens to participate in the financial upside created by AI, a position also highlighted by Axios.
Proposal Seeks Wider Public Participation
One option being explored would encourage other leading AI companies to adopt a similar model, potentially through government-backed investment funds or public accounts that give American households exposure to the fast-growing AI sector.
The proposal comes as the Trump administration reviews the regulatory framework for advanced AI models. If the US government were to become an OpenAI shareholder, it could face questions over managing its dual role as both regulator and investor in one of the world’s most influential AI companies.
Balancing Innovation And Oversight
Altman has also advocated creating a US-led international forum to establish common AI safety and governance standards, arguing that coordinated global rules could offer a better alternative to heavy-handed regulation.
According to Axios, some investors see the proposal as an effort to improve public perception of the AI industry by giving ordinary Americans a direct stake in its growth, particularly as concerns mount over AI-driven automation and its impact on jobs.
The idea is not entirely without precedent. The US government’s 9.9% investment in Intel last year has delivered strong returns, with the chipmaker’s shares rising sharply alongside a broader rally in semiconductor stocks.
Despite the attention surrounding the proposal, the discussions remain in their infancy. Any plan to grant the US government an equity stake in OpenAI would likely require congressional approval before it could move forward.
OpenAI and Anthropic have both previously endorsed the concept of a public or sovereign wealth fund as a way to distribute AI-generated wealth more widely. In a policy paper published in April, OpenAI argued that such a fund could give “every citizen—including those not invested in financial markets—a stake in AI-driven economic growth.”
Both companies are also widely expected to pursue US stock market listings in the coming years, with some investors estimating their valuations could eventually exceed $1 trillion.
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