US government would get 5% stake in OpenAI under Sam Altman proposal: report
OpenAI CEO Proposes Giving US Government 5% Stake in Company
According to reports, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman is considering a proposal to offer the US government a 5% stake in the ChatGPT maker. The move is seen as an attempt to solidify ties with the Trump administration and address growing political concerns surrounding the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence.
Altman believes that providing the public with a financial interest in one of Silicon Valley’s top AI companies would be a way to distribute the economic benefits of this cutting-edge technology, as reported by the Financial Times.
This proposal comes with a significant price tag. Based on OpenAI’s recent valuation of approximately $852 billion, a 5% stake would be valued at around $42.6 billion.
If the company achieves its goal of a $1 trillion valuation through an upcoming IPO, a 5% government stake could be worth about $50 billion.
While the exact IPO valuation is subject to market conditions, this proposal would represent one of the largest federal ownership interests considered in a private tech company.
OpenAI’s plan aims to encourage other leading AI developers to allocate around 5% of their equity to a government-backed investment entity inspired by Alaska’s Permanent Fund, which manages the state’s oil revenue and distributes dividends to residents.
It is uncertain whether competitors like Anthropic, Google, and Meta would support such a initiative.
Discussions between OpenAI and the Trump administration are in early stages and may require congressional approval, sources told FT.
Altman has reportedly discussed the idea with President Trump, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, according to insiders.
These talks come at a time when Washington is growing wary of the AI industry due to concerns about data centers, cybersecurity, and the technology’s impact on employment.
OpenAI and rival Anthropic have faced heightened federal scrutiny over their latest AI models, while some Republican lawmakers and Trump advisors have called for stricter regulation of the rapidly expanding sector.
Altman’s proposal reflects a broader change in the Trump administration’s approach to industrial policy.
Instead of relying solely on subsidies or tax breaks, the administration is now seeking minority ownership stakes in strategically important companies.
In August, Intel announced that the government had agreed to invest $8.9 billion in exchange for approximately 433.3 million shares, representing a 10% stake. The chipmaker clarified that the government’s role would be passive, with no board seat or special governance rights.
Similar arrangements have reportedly been pursued by the administration with rare-earth producer MP Materials and a group of quantum-computing companies to bolster US leadership in crucial technologies.
Recently, Senator Bernie Sanders proposed a $7 trillion sovereign wealth fund for the government to invest in AI firms, as reported by AP News.
The New York Post has reached out to OpenAI, the White House, the Treasury, and the Department of Commerce for comment.
