U.S. Government negotiates equity stake in OpenAI to fund public wealth fund

The administration of President Donald Trump is in advanced talks with OpenAI about acquiring a state share in the artificial‑intelligence company. The proposal, first presented by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman in 2025, would involve the firm allocating part of its equity to a newly created Public Wealth Fund that would distribute AI‑related financial gains to U.S. citizens.

Negotiations have been ongoing for more than a year. The White House plans to use the fund, similar to a sovereign‑wealth model, to let the American public become a partner in the profitability of the AI sector. Officials cited previous government stakes in strategic firms such as Intel and IBM, and a 2026 executive decree that requires AI firms to provide pre‑release model access for oversight. Senator Bernie Sanders has discussed the sovereign‑fund concept with OpenAI leadership, and the company, valued at over $850 billion, is preparing for a public offering later in 2026.