US Government Negotiates Stake in OpenAI

The Trump administration is in advanced talks with OpenAI and its CEO Sam Altman about a possible government equity stake in the AI firm. The discussion centers on a “Public Wealth Fund” that would allow the United States to hold a portion of OpenAI’s shares and let the public share in the company’s long‑term upside.  The White House has linked the idea to a sovereign‑wealth fund created by a February executive order and to broader policy that treats AI, semiconductors and quantum computing as strategic sectors.

OpenAI, valued at more than $850 billion and reportedly planning an IPO this year, has not yet agreed on the terms of any transaction. Senator Bernie Sanders has floated legislation that would give the public a 50 percent ownership stake in the nation’s largest AI companies, saying, “I will soon be introducing a bill to give the public a 50% ownership stake in the largest AI companies in America.”

The proposal has drawn mixed reactions, with some advisers warning it could deepen corporate‑government ties. No final agreement has been reached, and the outcome could set a precedent for how the U.S. government engages with high‑growth technology firms.