OpenAI Discusses 5% U.S. Government Stake Amid AI Talks

The prospect of the federal government holding equity in leading artificial intelligence companies has surfaced as a potential new lever in Washington’s oversight of the sector. OpenAI has floated the idea of allotting a 5 percent ownership interest to a sovereign wealth fund-style vehicle, according to reporting by the Financial Times that cited two unnamed people familiar with the discussions. The proposal arrives while the Trump administration advances executive orders aimed at accelerating AI development and while companies face questions over job impacts, data center demands, and national security reviews.

The arrangement remains in its earliest phase. An individual familiar with the matter told Axios that talks have not progressed beyond preliminary stages, and no agreement with other AI developers has been reached. OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman has raised the concept with senior officials, including President Trump, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, since the start of the second term. The Financial Times reported that similar equity contributions from additional U.S. AI firms were mentioned, though Anthropic has not held parallel conversations with the administration, a source told Reuters.

Precedents exist. Last August the government acquired a 10 percent stake in Intel after committing $8.9 billion to the chipmaker. Trump has previously described government ownership in AI companies as potentially creating “a partnership with the American public.” Any formal stake would require legislation, the unnamed sources said.

OpenAI has already adjusted one product release in response to administration concerns. Last month the company limited availability of GPT 5.6 after officials requested a national security assessment period of up to 30 days before new models reach the public. The firm stated it does not view such access processes as a sustainable long-term model. Separate proposals from Senator Bernie Sanders and from OpenAI and Anthropic policy papers have explored broader public-ownership mechanisms, including a one-time 50 percent stock tax or universal capital accounts funded by AI returns.

The discussions occur against a backdrop of deregulation preferences within the administration and simultaneous pressure over cybersecurity, resource use, and competitive positioning relative to China. No company comments were provided by the time of publication, and the White House did not respond to requests for comment.