OpenAI has reportedly proposed giving the U.S. government a 5% stake in the company. The plan would place part of the AI developer’s future value under public ownership. It comes as Washington increases scrutiny of advanced AI models, cybersecurity risks, and competition from China. The proposal also raises a direct question about how AI wealth could reach the wider public.
OpenAI Proposal Centers on Public Ownership
According to the report, OpenAI discussed a plan that would give Washington a 5% holding in the company. The stake would be worth about $42.6 billion, based on OpenAI’s recent $852 billion valuation.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman reportedly presented the idea as a way to share AI gains with the public. The structure would give the government an ownership interest before any possible public listing.
The plan was discussed as part of a wider arrangement for major U.S. AI developers. Under that model, Washington could hold similar stakes in leading companies through a government vehicle.
The proposal reportedly named firms such as Anthropic, Google, and Meta as possible participants. However, the report said it remains unclear whether those companies would accept such a structure.
Public AI Gains Move Into Policy Debate
The reported plan follows earlier discussions about a public wealth fund tied to AI growth. OpenAI had proposed such a fund in April to give citizens exposure to AI-linked assets.
That earlier idea was designed for people who do not own stocks or private company shares. It also aimed to connect public wealth creation with the commercial growth of AI systems.
A 5% government stake would not automatically send cash to citizens. The details would depend on how the holding is managed, valued, and later distributed.
If placed in a sovereign wealth fund, the stake could generate returns over time. However, any public payout would likely require rules from policymakers and approval from relevant authorities.
Washington Pressure Shapes AI Talks
The proposal comes during a period of stronger government attention on frontier AI firms. Officials have focused on model safety, export controls, national security, and economic concentration.
The report noted that Anthropic recently restored access to advanced models after meeting government safety concerns. That case showed how policy decisions can affect leading AI products and access.
Washington is also watching Chinese open-source models, which are cheaper and increasingly capable. This has raised pressure on U.S. developers to protect national interests while keeping market leadership.
In this setting, a public stake could serve as a political bridge between AI firms and the government. It would give the public a formal financial link to the sector’s growth.
Earlier on, we reported that Coinbase launched pre-IPO perpetual futures for OpenAI and Anthropic for eligible non-U.S. customers. The products give traders exposure to valuation-linked contracts before either AI company completes a public listing.
Stake Plan Follows Earlier Government Deals
The U.S. government has already taken ownership stakes in private companies during Trump’s second term. The report cited earlier investments in Intel, IBM, quantum firms, and critical mineral companies.
In August last year, Washington obtained a 10% stake in Intel through an $8.9 billion investment. Trump later said he should have asked for a larger share in the chipmaker.
That record gives the OpenAI proposal a policy backdrop, rather than making it an isolated idea. It also shows that equity deals are already part of Washington’s industrial strategy.
The proposal remains early, and no agreement has been announced. The White House and listed companies had not confirmed support in the report. Any final structure would need to address valuation, voting rights, and public control.
