FT: OpenAI Considers Offering Washington a 5% Equity Stake

The proposal is designed to give Americans a direct financial stake in artificial intelligence while helping to reduce intensifying political scrutiny of the sector.

OpenAI has reportedly considered granting the U.S. government a 5% equity stake as part of a broader push to strengthen ties with the Trump administration and expand public participation in the economic upside of AI, the Financial Times reported Thursday.

The idea remains in its early stages and was said to have been introduced by CEO Sam Altman during initial discussions with U.S. officials, according to people familiar with the matter.

The framework would see major U.S. AI companies contribute similar equity stakes into a shared public investment vehicle, modeled after Alaska’s Permanent Fund, which distributes returns from state investments to residents.

The initiative aims to address mounting regulatory pressure by giving the public a tangible interest in the industry’s long-term growth. Discussions reportedly included senior Trump administration officials such as Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, though any proposal would likely require Congressional approval.

It is still unclear whether other AI firms, including Anthropic, Google, and Meta, would back the plan.

OpenAI declined to comment on the report. The San Francisco-based company also confidentially filed draft IPO paperwork with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission in June but has not committed to a listing timeline, with some reports suggesting a delay until 2027.