OpenAI is reportedly in preliminary discussions with the Trump administration to grant the U.S. government a 5% ownership stake in the company. This proposal, valued at approximately $42.6 billion based on OpenAI’s recent valuation of $852 billion, aims to share the financial benefits of artificial intelligence (AI) advancements with the public. ([arstechnica.com](https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2026/07/openai-floats-giving-us-5-stake-to-win-over-ai-haters/?utm_source=openai))
CEO Sam Altman has engaged with President Donald Trump, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to discuss this initiative. Altman has also proposed that other leading AI firms, including Google and Meta, consider similar arrangements to collectively establish a public wealth fund. ([euronews.com](https://www.euronews.com/next/2026/07/02/openai-offers-the-us-government-a-5-ownership-stake?utm_source=openai))
This development follows heightened governmental scrutiny of AI technologies. Recently, the administration requested OpenAI to limit the initial release of its GPT-5.6 model to a select group of government-approved partners, citing national security concerns. ([axios.com](https://www.axios.com/2026/06/25/trump-administration-openai-gpt-model-release?utm_source=openai))
Senator Bernie Sanders has advocated for more substantial public ownership in AI companies. He introduced the American AI Sovereign Wealth Fund Act, proposing a one-time 50% tax on the stock of major AI firms to create a $7 trillion fund. This fund would provide annual dividends to U.S. residents and support public initiatives. ([tomshardware.com](https://www.tomshardware.com/tech-industry/artificial-intelligence/bernie-sanders-files-bill-proposing-50-percent-public-ownership-of-us-ai-firms-and-giving-out-usd1-000-dividends-vp-vance-says-trump-supports-giving-the-american-people-a-stake-in-ai-companies-prefers-pre-distribution-over-giving-away-cash?utm_source=openai))
The administration’s approach to AI regulation has been multifaceted. In addition to considering equity stakes, the government has imposed restrictions on AI model releases. For instance, OpenAI’s GPT-5.6 model faced a delayed public release due to security evaluations. ([tomshardware.com](https://www.tomshardware.com/tech-industry/artificial-intelligence/openais-chatgpt-5-6-gets-the-same-banhammer-treatment-as-anthropics-mythos-from-the-federal-government-source-says-that-washington-cautioned-openai-against-releasing-the-model-without-receiving-approval?utm_source=openai))
As discussions continue, the balance between fostering AI innovation and ensuring public benefit remains a central focus for policymakers and industry leaders.