OpenAI is in discussions to transfer a 5% stake to the U.S. government, according to a report by the Financial Times on July 2, citing two sources. This move is seen as a way for OpenAI to eliminate political obstacles by financially aligning itself with the Trump administration.
Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, has argued that publicly offering part of the company's stake would allow for shared growth. He has reportedly discussed this proposal with key figures, including President Donald Trump, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, Treasury Secretary Scott Vestant, and Senator Bernie Sanders. Sanders has advocated for major U.S. AI companies to transfer about half of their stakes to sovereign funds or public funds. However, sources indicate that these discussions are still in the early stages and would require congressional approval to yield tangible results.
Additionally, OpenAI has suggested that other major U.S. AI companies, such as Anthropic, Google, and Meta, consider transferring around 5% of their stakes to sovereign funds. One example mentioned is the Alaska Permanent Fund, which invests oil revenue in stocks and distributes dividends to the state and its residents. It remains unclear whether other companies would agree to such proposals.
The Financial Times noted that transferring a stake to the U.S. government could help OpenAI establish a cooperative relationship with the Trump administration and share AI-generated profits with the public, thereby mitigating potential political backlash. The report cited Trump's initial criticism of Intel, which shifted to support after the U.S. government acquired a 10% stake in the company.
Amid growing concerns over employment and security related to large data centers being built by AI companies, public criticism of these firms has intensified in the U.S. The Trump administration has even paused the release of the latest AI models from OpenAI and Anthropic due to security concerns.
OpenAI's valuation currently stands at $852 billion, following a $122 billion funding round completed in March. The company initially aimed for a $1 trillion valuation for its initial public offering (IPO) this year, but recent stock price drops following SpaceX's IPO have led to speculation that the IPO will be postponed until next year, as reported by The New York Times last week.
Previously, OpenAI and Anthropic have suggested that a system for providing stakes to the general public through public funds or sovereign funds may be necessary.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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