OpenAI proposes giving the US government a five percent stake

OpenAI has floated the idea with the US government of granting the state a five percent stake in the company. CEO Sam Altman discussed the plan with, among others, President Donald Trump and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, the Financial Times reports. The proposal is intended to ease relations with the Trump administration and reduce growing public resistance to AI.

Altman argued that a financial stake for the government is the best way to let Americans share in the benefits of AI's rise. By bringing the state to the table as a co-owner, OpenAI hopes to gain support from an administration that has authority over regulation, subsidies, and access to scarce computing capacity.

This remains a proposal, not a finalised deal. Based on available reporting, nothing is known about the precise terms, valuation, or legal structure.

What the proposal entails

A five percent stake would give the US government a direct financial position in one of the most capital-intensive AI companies in the world. OpenAI is currently undergoing a conversion from its non-profit status to a more commercial structure, which would in principle make such a shareholding arrangement possible. The exact route, whether through a direct participation, a sovereign wealth fund, or another legal entity, has not been publicly confirmed.

Altman has previously argued for a model in which the benefits of AI are more broadly distributed. The idea of a government stake aligns with that position, but also carries a clear strategic dimension: OpenAI operates in an environment where the US government wields significant influence over the company's growth through export controls, energy policy, and licensing.

Commerce Secretary Lutnick, who oversees part of technology policy in his role, took part in the discussions. His involvement suggests the conversation goes beyond an informal exploration.

Background: strained relations with Washington

The relationship between the major AI labs and US politics has grown more complex in recent years. On one hand, the Trump administration has designated AI as a strategic priority and has largely rolled back federal-level regulation. On the other hand, there is growing political pressure to demonstrate that the enormous investments in AI also benefit ordinary Americans.

OpenAI has already taken steps toward Washington. Altman attended Trump's inauguration, and the company announced a five-hundred-billion-dollar investment in US AI infrastructure in early 2025, under the name Stargate, together with SoftBank and Oracle. A government stake would represent a further step in that direction of political entrenchment.

At the same time, OpenAI is under pressure from critics, including co-founder Elon Musk, who has legally challenged the conversion to a commercial company. A government stake would give OpenAI an argument that the public interest remains safeguarded, even after the structural change.

What this means for the broader AI sector

If the proposal materialises, it would set a precedent that extends well beyond OpenAI alone. A government holding a financial stake in a specific AI company would also take on a different position in debates on regulation, market oversight, and international cooperation in the field of AI.

This is relevant for European policymakers and investors. The European AI Act places particular emphasis on independent oversight and the prevention of conflicts of interest between government and industry. A model in which the US state becomes a co-owner of a leading AI lab runs counter to that approach and could further sharpen the transatlantic debate on AI governance.

For Dutch and European AI companies, the development illustrates how closely the competitive position of US labs is becoming intertwined with political dynamics in Washington. Those seeking access to the largest models, the most computing capacity, and the deepest capital flows are increasingly operating in an environment where technology and government relations are difficult to separate.