OpenAI is reportedly in early-stage talks to give a 5% stake in the ChatGPT developer to the US government, as artificial intelligence companies attempt to smooth relations with Donald Trump's administration.

CEO Sam Altman has argued that giving the US public a financial stake in the company is the best way to share the benefits of AI, according to the Financial Times, which cited two unnamed people familiar with the discussions. The proposal would also involve other US AI companies — including Anthropic, Google, and Meta — giving a similar stake, though it is not yet clear whether those firms would agree.

The structure would be modeled on the Alaska Permanent Fund, a sovereign wealth fund that invests oil revenue and pays dividends to state residents. Altman and other OpenAI executives have suggested each of the biggest AI developers in the US should contribute 5% of their equity to such a vehicle.

The talks are described as "conceptual" and in early stages. Any deal could require an act of Congress to implement.

The proposal comes amid growing pressure from Washington. Last month, Anthropic suspended its newest model after the government ordered it to curtail access for foreign nationals on national security grounds. It restored access this week after resolving the government's safety concerns.

Altman has been in talks about public ownership with President Trump, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. He has also reportedly spoken with Democratic Senator Bernie Sanders, who has been pushing for a sovereign wealth fund financed through a one-time 50% tax on the stock of the biggest AI companies.

Both OpenAI and Anthropic are preparing to list on the US stock market, in moves that some investors believe could value both companies at more than $1 trillion.

Sources: The Guardian