source: techcrunch ai: the trump administration might take an equity stake in openai
level: business
president donald trump said on friday he has spoken with ai companies about deals where the american people can benefit from ai success. cnbc reported the administration has been discussing an equity stake with openai. some of that equity could seed a public wealth fund proposed by openai, which would distribute proceeds directly to citizens, letting more people share in ai-driven growth.
bloomberg noted that when reporters asked trump about the idea on air force one, he said he has talked to ai executives about concepts where pieces could be given to the american public, making them partners with the companies. openai ceo sam altman has been discussing a government stake in major ai firms since early 2025. this fits trump's broader interest in government ownership of for-profit companies, such as the 10% stake in intel last year.
the idea has also gained traction on the left. senator bernie sanders proposed a one-time 50% tax on ai companies like openai, anthropic, and xai, paid in stock, to give the public a direct role in determining ai's future. investor david sacks warned this could accelerate corporate-government fusion. a former microsoft employee suggested groundwork is being laid for a government bailout of openai.
why it matters: government equity in ai firms could reshape public influence over ai development and profit distribution, affecting data governance and industry structure.
source: techcrunch ai: the trump administration might take an equity stake in openai