OpenAI CEO Sam Altman is reportedly in active discussions with the Trump administration about the United States potentially acquiring a 5 percent stake in the company. According to the Financial Times, these talks are in their early stages, but Altman has argued that giving the public a financial stake in the company is the best way to share the benefits of AI. Donald Trump supports the idea, and his administration has been engaging with several AI firms about the possibility. Other companies approached for similar stake discussions include Google and Meta, though none have commented on the report. Google and Meta have not indicated they agree with Altman's proposal for a 5 percent stake. Meta has also not voluntarily agreed to share frontier AI models with officials for safety testing, as reported by The New York Times.

The proposal comes amid what Axios has described as an 'AI hate wave,' with recent polls showing that 70 percent of Americans do not want AI data centers built in their area and half of Americans are more concerned than excited about AI. Pew Research Center noted that while chatbots and AI summaries are becoming more popular, views about AI and its rapid advancement remain largely negative, even among younger adults. Both political parties are aware this could influence upcoming elections and possibly future ones. Earlier this week, NBC News reported that voters across party lines want tighter AI regulations. Trump and AI firms have warned that overregulation could threaten America’s lead in the AI race with China.

OpenAI has suggested creating a sovereign wealth fund similar to the Alaska Permanent Fund to give Americans a stake in AI-driven economic growth. The company first proposed this idea in the spring, and an OpenAI blog stated that an 'AI-led future' would require 'new approaches that give people durable stakes in the systems creating value.' So far, OpenAI has spoken with Trump officials such as Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, as well as Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.). Sanders has expressed skepticism about the proposed stake size and has proposed a legislative plan that would require leading AI firms to pay a one-time 50 percent tax on their stock.

Source: arstechnica