OpenAI proposes handing Trump administration 5% stake
OpenAI has proposed granting the Trump administration a 5% stake in the company, according to a Financial Times report. The move would give the U.S. government an ownership interest in the artificial intelligence firm as it continues to shape AI policy.
Background
OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, is reportedly proposing to give the US government (under a potential future Trump administration) a 5% equity stake in the company. This is significant because OpenAI is currently structured as a "capped-profit" entity — it has a unique corporate structure that limits investor returns, originally designed to ensure its AI development benefits humanity broadly. A government stake would be a radical departure, potentially giving the state direct influence over and financial interest in a leading AI firm. The proposal comes amid intensifying global competition over advanced AI, particularly between the US and China, and as OpenAI seeks massive new funding (valuing it at $150B+) while navigating its complex transition to a for-profit model. Critics would likely see this as an improper entanglement of state and corporate power, while supporters might view it as a way to align national security interests with AI development.