OpenAI discusses giving the US government a 5% stake
OpenAI is in early talks about giving the US government a 5% stake in the company. Sam Altman is arguing that the public should share in the money created by AI. The idea could also ask other major US AI companies, such as Anthropic, Google, and Meta, to give a similar stake, but it is not clear whether they would agree.
The stake could sit in a government-backed vehicle similar to a , modeled on Alaska’s fund that invests state oil money and pays benefits to residents. The talks are still conceptual, and a real deal may need approval from Congress. The pressure behind the idea includes worries in Washington about growth, jobs, , and the release of powerful new .
Based on OpenAI’s reported private value of $852 billion, a 5% stake would be worth about $42.6 billion, and it could be worth about $50 billion if OpenAI reaches a $1 trillion value in a public listing.
Key points
- OpenAI is discussing a plan to give the US government a 5% stake.
- The stated reason is to let the public share in AI’s financial upside while easing political pressure.
- The plan could involve other AI companies, including Anthropic, Google, and Meta, but their support is unknown.
- The talks are early and may need approval from Congress.
- The political pressure is tied to growth, jobs, , and advanced model releases.