OpenAI Discusses Giving U.S. Government 5% Equity Stake Ahead of IPO: Report

By Mahima Katal Washington, July 3: OpenAI has reportedly discussed granting the U.S. government a 5% equity stake in the company. The proposal comes as artificial intelligence companies face increasing scrutiny in Washington over the potential misuse of advanced AI systems and growing concerns about whether Americans will benefit from the industry's soaring valuations.

The report, citing two people familiar with the discussions, said OpenAI has also suggested that other leading U.S. AI companies consider offering similar equity stakes to the government, although it remains unclear whether rival firms would support such a move.

The discussions also come amid increased government oversight of advanced AI technologies. Last week, OpenAI delayed the wider release of its latest AI model, GPT-5.6, after a request from the Trump administration. Around the same time, Anthropic temporarily restricted access to its most advanced models under a government order aimed at preventing foreign nationals from accessing sensitive AI technology. Those restrictions were lifted earlier this week.

Proposed Public Wealth Fund

According to the report, OpenAI's proposal would require major U.S. AI companies to allocate 5% of their equity to a government-managed investment vehicle modeled on the Alaska Permanent Fund, which distributes annual dividends to Alaska residents using revenue generated from the state's oil resources.

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has reportedly discussed the idea with President Donald Trump, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. The report also noted that Altman met Senator Bernie Sanders earlier this year.

The proposal aligns with broader discussions in Washington about ensuring the public benefits from AI-driven economic growth. Last month, President Trump said his administration was exploring ways to give Americans a financial stake in leading AI companies. Senator Bernie Sanders has gone further, calling for the government to acquire a 50% stake in major AI firms, arguing that AI systems are built on publicly generated human knowledge without adequate compensation.

OpenAI has previously floated the idea of creating a public wealth fund that would invest in AI companies and distribute returns to citizens. Anthropic has separately proposed a "digital dividend," under which taxes on AI companies would fund direct payments to Americans.

Potential Global Implications

Analysts say a government stake could reduce regulatory uncertainty for investors ahead of planned IPOs by OpenAI and Anthropic. However, Indranil Bandyopadhyay, an analyst at Forrester, warned that such a move could encourage other countries to demand similar ownership arrangements as a condition for market access, potentially raising concerns over data sovereignty and the neutrality of U.S.-based AI providers.

The proposal also reflects a broader U.S. strategy of taking equity positions in companies considered strategically important. In recent years, the federal government has acquired stakes in firms such as Intel and MP Materials as part of efforts to strengthen domestic semiconductor and critical mineral supply chains and reduce dependence on China.