Citing two sources familiar with the discussions, the FT reported that OpenAI's CEO Sam Altman argued, "Offering the public a financial stake is the optimal method to distribute AI's benefits." During early talks with the Trump administration, Altman suggested that stake as part of a larger plan where the government would own 5% of all leading U.S. AI developers through a state-run entity, per the report. The plan also suggests that other major AI firms like Anthropic, Google, and Meta would give similar stakes to a sovereign wealth fund.
It remains uncertain whether those companies will accept OpenAI's suggestion. Neither the White House, OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, nor Meta replied to CNBC's requests for comment.
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Open-source models are those whose code is publicly available. These Chinese models are nearly as capable as top American ones but cost much less to run.
President Donald Trump called the idea of the U.S. acquiring equity in major AI companies "a beautiful thing," stating it would make Americans "partners in this revolution." The proposal is meant to ease that political heat. But it is unclear whether other companies will agree.
During his second term, President Trump's administration has invested in private firms like Intel, IBM, and companies involved in quantum technology and critical minerals. In August last year, the government acquired a 10% ownership in Intel by investing $8.9 billion in the chipmaker's stock. In May, Trump remarked that he ought to have negotiated for a larger share in Intel.
According to a CNBC report from last month, OpenAI's latest offer followed over twelve months of discussions regarding a government ownership interest, and Altman initially raised the idea with the Trump administration in early 2025. In April, the company proposed creating a "public wealth fund" that would own stakes in AI firms and channel the resulting financial gains back to citizens.
The proposal comes amid growing concern over the rise of cheaper Chinese AI models, such as those from DeepSeek, which have demonstrated capabilities comparable to top U.S. systems at a fraction of the cost. These open-source models pose a competitive threat and have intensified political scrutiny on U.S. AI companies regarding cybersecurity and economic risks. Additionally, the Trump administration has previously taken equity stakes in private firms like Intel, where it acquired a 10% ownership in August last year through an $8.9 billion investment, signaling a willingness to intervene in strategic technology sectors.
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