Trump administration, OpenAI discussing possible government stake
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and the White House are in ongoing talks about a possible government stake in the artificial intelligence company, CNBC confirmed Friday.
Discussions have been going on for more than a year since Altman first shared the idea with the Trump administration in 2025, according to a source familiar with the matter who asked not to be identified because the details are confidential.
Talks continued this week, with Altman meeting with a number of lawmakers and officials in Washington, D.C., about the latest developments in regulations and artificial intelligence.
As part of the potential deal, OpenAI could donate equity to the US government to seed something like: “Public Wealth Fund“This is what the company outlined in its April policy proposal,” he said.
Under the proposal, OpenAI said the fund could “invest in diversified, long-term assets” and would allow citizens to participate in the “upside” of AI growth, possibly by receiving the fund’s returns directly.
No formal investment terms have yet been determined and details may still change. note He was the first to report the latest talks.
President Donald Trump spoke during calls with reporters aboard Air Force One on Friday.
“There are concepts where parts can be given to the American people, where the American people essentially become partners,” he said.
The president said he would meet with artificial intelligence companies “in the very short, very near future.”
Trump signed a deal executive order in February We call on the federal government to establish a sovereign wealth fund.
The Trump administration has already taken risks IntelInternational Business Machines and other quantum and critical mining companies during the president’s second term.
Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt. He told CNBC that he and Altman discussed the concept of a sovereign wealth fund at their meeting on Wednesday.
OpenAI is valued more than once 850 billion dollars It is carried out by private investors and the company is preparing for an initial public offering as soon as this year. In March, the company closed a record-breaking financing round co-led by MGX, which is backed by Abu Dhabi’s sovereign wealth fund.
Tech companies like OpenAI have played a central role in shaping the White House’s position on emerging technology.
Trump signed an executive order Tuesday asking AI companies to voluntarily provide government access to models up to 30 days before they are released. The order is thin on specific details, but executives at leading AI companies, including Altman, voiced their support on social media.
“The United States must lead on AI by continuing to develop the best models, ensuring they are secure, and putting cyber tools into the hands of trusted defenders,” Altman wrote. a post on x. “The new EO gets the balance right.”
—CNBC’s Karen Sloan and Emily Wilkins contributed to this story.
