OpenAI reportedly discussed giving the US government a 5% equity stake during early talks with the Trump administration, according to the Financial Times.
The reported proposal matters because it would give Washington a direct ownership interest in one of the leading artificial intelligence companies while federal scrutiny of AI models is increasing.
The talks highlight the growing intersection between major AI developers and government oversight. A stake of that size would represent a notable shift from regulation alone toward potential public ownership.
The report places the discussions against a backdrop of tighter US oversight of AI models, as policymakers take a more active role in the sector’s development.