©picture alliance / Newscom | Aaron Scwartz
Will the Trump administration change course? OpenAI is pulling out all the stops.
Artificial intelligence is becoming an increasingly prominent part of our daily lives. The United States is no exception. There, major tech companies are in close contact with the White House.
OpenAI has proposed that the U.S. government take a 5 percent stake in the company, according to the Financial Times, citing two sources familiar with the talks. The ChatGPT developer is reportedly seeking to ease political pressure in Washington as the debate over the power of major AI companies continues to intensify.
Government stakes in AI companies
Based on the recent valuation of $852 billion, a 5 percent stake would amount to approximately $42.6 billion. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman reportedly argued that citizens should be able to benefit from the economic value created by artificial intelligence through a government stake. According to the Financial Times newspaper, he had previously proposed a similar arrangement during broader discussions with the Trump administration. The proposal is not limited to OpenAI alone. The plans would also include other major U.S. AI companies, such as Anthropic, Google, and Meta, which would likewise cede a stake through a government fund. It remains unclear for now whether those companies would go along with this.
These talks are part of a broader discussion surrounding AI. Under President Donald Trump, Washington has already been taking direct stakes in strategic companies more frequently, including Intel. At the same time, pressure on AI companies is mounting due to concerns about security, misuse, and international competition. This is therefore a striking proposal from OpenAI, one that could alter the balance of power in the AI sector not only politically but also economically.
©picture alliance / Newscom | Aaron Scwartz - OpenAI CEO Sam Altman