OpenAI talks about offering the US government a 5 percent stake.

According to reports published on July 2–3, OpenAI is in early discussions about offering a 5% equity stake to the U.S. government, a proposal that could fundamentally reshape the relationship between major artificial intelligence companies and Washington. The discussions are still at a preliminary stage, and no final agreement has been reached.

The reported proposal is aimed at ensuring that Americans benefit financially from the rapid growth of artificial intelligence. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has reportedly suggested a structure similar to the Alaska Permanent Fund, where public ownership could allow citizens to share in the economic gains generated by AI. The company is also said to have encouraged other leading AI firms to consider similar arrangements.

The discussions come as AI companies face increasing scrutiny from U.S. policymakers over issues such as job displacement, national security, and the concentration of wealth created by advanced AI systems. A government stake could strengthen cooperation between regulators and AI developers while addressing public concerns about who benefits from the AI revolution.

Financially, the proposal is significant. Based on OpenAI's reported valuation of approximately $852 billion, a 5% stake would be worth more than $42 billion. If the company proceeds with a future initial public offering (IPO) at an even higher valuation, the government's stake could become substantially more valuable. Analysts believe such an arrangement could also boost investor confidence by reducing regulatory uncertainty. However, the plan remains highly speculative and would likely require congressional approval before it could be implemented. Industry experts note that questions remain about governance, competition, and whether other AI companies such as Anthropic, Google, or Meta would be willing to adopt similar models. Some reports also indicate that not all companies have discussed such an arrangement with the government.