Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, has proposed a plan to align with both populists and plutocrats in Washington: offering the government a portion of OpenAI to financially benefit Americans. According to Financial Times, Altman suggested handing the U.S. government a 5 percent stake, valued approximately at $42.6 billion, based on OpenAI’s March valuation of $852 billion.
Altman discussed this idea with key figures like President Donald Trump, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. These discussions are still at a theoretical stage and would need Congressional approval for a deal of this magnitude.
This proposal is part of a broader vision where major American AI companies like Google, Meta, and Anthropic would contribute similar stakes into a shared model akin to the Alaska Permanent Fund, which has historically provided annual oil dividends. Currently, these companies haven’t agreed, and the possibility of them doing so remains uncertain.
A shift in perspective enables this proposal to gain traction. This administration has started viewing the government as a shareholder, exemplified by a 9.9 percent stake in Intel through CHIPS Act grants and a conditional 15 percent cut from China chip sales negotiated with Nvidia and AMD.
President Trump has considered AI wealth-sharing as a potential partnership with the American public, with Vice President JD Vance favoring equity over direct payouts.
Altman’s outreach extends to progressive figures like Senator Bernie Sanders, who proposed a more radical approach: a one-time 50 percent tax on AI company stock for a sovereign wealth fund, under his proposed American AI Sovereign Wealth Fund Act. Sanders emphasizes that AI should benefit humanity, as it is built on collective human knowledge.
This bipartisan interest indicates a significant shift within the industry. It also reflects the administration’s nationalist and equity-focused priorities. OpenAI seems keen on aligning with these priorities, evidenced by the postponed release of its GPT-5.6 model following governmental input. Additionally, OpenAI faces scrutiny from 42 state attorneys general.
Altman’s plan could foster goodwill and encourage regulatory support, potentially fitting the narrative of American-made and owned technology. By framing AI success as a benefit to ‘the American people,’ the proposal converts a private company’s political liabilities into national assets, aligning with the AI leadership over China idea.
71% oppose data centers in their community, showing the potential benefit of AI dividends.
However, not everyone views these initiatives as beneficial policies. Valence Howden, Advisory Fellow at Info-Tech Research Group, cautions against potential conflicts of interest and decreased motivation for government regulation. Howden predicts a cooling effect on global adoption due to heightened geopolitical risks.
Industry perspectives also diverge. David Sacks, venture capitalist and AI advisor, warns against potential corporate-government fusion, seeing risks in the government’s equity stake. Critics perceive Altman’s proposal as politically motivated rather than a genuine wealth-sharing strategy.
For now, Altman faces hurdles. No commitments from his rivals, no Congressional authorization, and unresolved logistics for distributing dividends akin to the Alaska model. Legal pathways exist, especially framing it as vital for national security.
The broader political agenda is clear. Offering equity stakes, as seen with Intel, Nvidia, and AMD, is a signature economic move. Gifting Washington a stake allows it to present this as ‘America First,’ regardless of underlying motivations.
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