OpenAI CEO Sam Altman's pitch frames this as democratizing AI's economic upside—the best way to ensure Americans share in the industry's growth. He raised the idea directly with President Trump, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, according to the FT.
The proposed structure would model a sovereign wealth vehicle like the Alaska Permanent Fund, a state-owned fund established in 1976 to invest surplus oil revenues and pay annual dividends to state residents.
The proposal doesn't stop at OpenAI. Altman reportedly wants other major U.S. AI developers—Anthropic, Google, Meta—to cede a similar 5% to the government through the same vehicle. None of those companies have signaled any interest in joining as of yet.
OpenAI has been more supportive than Anthropic when it comes to its deals with the U.S. government, signing partnerships where Anthropic refused.
The FT characterized the discussions as conceptual and early-stage, adding that any arrangement could require Congressional approval.
The deal, if it materializes, would mark the first time Washington holds equity in a private AI company. For OpenAI—navigating a confidential IPO filing and a probe from a coalition of 42 state attorneys general—the deal may be worth it.
