By Kashmira Konduparty
OpenAI is in early discussions about giving the U.S. government a 5% equity stake in the company as part of a broader proposal aimed at sharing the economic benefits of artificial intelligence with the public while strengthening ties with the Trump administration, according to Financial Times.
The proposal would encourage other leading U.S. AI companies to contribute similar stakes to a government-backed investment vehicle modeled after the Alaska Permanent Fund, which invests state oil revenues and distributes annual dividends to Alaska residents.
Based on OpenAI’s most recent valuation of about $852 billion, a 5% stake would be worth roughly $42.6 billion. The proposal remains at an early stage and it is unclear whether rival AI companies, including Anthropic, Google and Meta, would support a similar arrangement. Any agreement would likely require congressional approval before it could be implemented.
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The discussions come as the Trump administration increases its oversight of advanced artificial intelligence. Last month, OpenAI delayed the broader release of its upcoming GPT-5.6 model after the White House requested that access initially be limited to a small group of government-approved partners because of national security concerns. Separately, Anthropic recently regained access to international markets after U.S. officials lifted export control on its latest AI models following negotiations over additional security safeguards.
According to the reports, OpenAI Chief Executive Sam Altman has argued that a public ownership model could help ensure Americans share in the financial gains created by AI while addressing growing concerns about job displacement and the concentration of wealth in the technology sector. The company previously proposed creating a “public wealth fund” that would give every American a stake in AI-driven economic growth, regardless of whether they own stocks.
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President Donald Trump has made U.S. leadership in artificial intelligence a central economic priority, emphasizing domestic investment in advanced technologies. Last month, he said the administration was exploring ways for the public to benefit directly from the rapid growth of the AI industry through partnerships with leading companies.
The talks remain preliminary and there is no indication that a formal agreement has been reached.
The proposal comes as OpenAI prepares for a potential initial public offering later this year, alongside rival Anthropic, in what could mark one of the biggest public debuts in the history of the artificial intelligence industry.