OpenAI in Early Talks to Transfer 5% Stake to US Government

Citing two anonymous sources familiar with the discussions, the FT reported that CEO Sam Altman is advocating for the transfer of shares to the government as the best way to publicly distribute the benefits of AI.

The plan reportedly includes similar share transfers to the government from other US AI companies, such as Anthropic, Google, and Meta. However, it remains unclear at this time whether these companies would agree to the plan.

According to the FT, Altman and others are proposing that major US AI developers each make 5% of their shares available for investment. Specifically, an investment vehicle modeled after sovereign wealth funds, such as the Alaska Permanent Fund, is being envisioned.

The negotiations are said to be at a "conceptual" early stage, and even if an agreement is reached, implementation would require the passage of legislation by the US Congress.

OpenAI and Anthropic had previously published policy papers stating that a public or sovereign wealth fund would be necessary for future equity distribution. In April of this year, OpenAI stated that a "public wealth fund" could provide all citizens with a right to participate in AI-driven economic growth.

This move comes amid increasing pressure from Washington. Last month, Anthropic restricted foreign access to its latest models at the government's request, though it announced this week that access for customers has been resumed after safety concerns were resolved.