OpenAI Proposes Government Equity Stake via Sovereign Wealth Fund

OpenAI and U.S. officials are in ongoing talks about a possible government stake in the company. The discussions have lasted more than a year. The AI startup could donate equity to the U.S. government to seed a public wealth fund similar to one outlined in the company's April policy proposal. No official investment terms have been decided.

The talks continued this week as Altman met with lawmakers and officials in Washington. OpenAI said the fund could invest in diversified, long-term assets and enable citizens to participate in AI growth by receiving the fund's returns directly.

He said concepts exist where pieces could be given to the American public so it becomes a partner. The president said he is meeting with AI companies in the very near future. Trump signed an executive order in February calling for the federal government to establish a sovereign wealth fund.

The Trump administration has already taken stakes in Intel, International Business Machines and other quantum and critical mineral companies during the president's second term. , told CNBC that he and Altman discussed the concept of a sovereign wealth fund during their meeting on Wednesday.

OpenAI is valued at more than $850 billion by private investors and is gearing up for an initial public offering as soon as this year. The company closed a record-breaking funding round in March that was co-led by MGX, which is backed by Abu Dhabi's sovereign wealth fund.

“There are concepts where pieces could be given to the American public, where the American public essentially becomes a partner.”

Tech companies like OpenAI have played a central role in shaping the White House's positions on the nascent technology. Trump on Friday signed a directive instructing federal national security organizations to accelerate AI adoption. The directive landed just days after Trump signed an executive order asking AI companies to voluntarily provide the government access to their models for up to 30 days before their release.

Altman voiced support for the directive on social media.