OpenAI Proposes Giving US Govt. 5% Stake

OpenAI has reportedly proposed giving the U.S. government a 5% stake in the company, according to the Financial Times. The move is seen as an effort to align with national interests and secure regulatory backing as the AI industry faces increasing scrutiny.

Background

OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT, has reportedly proposed giving the US government a 5% equity stake in the company as it restructures from a nonprofit to a for-profit entity. This matters because OpenAI is one of the most valuable private AI companies in the world (recently valued at over $150 billion), and its unusual corporate structure — a nonprofit board controlling a capped-profit subsidiary — has been a source of tension. The proposal appears aimed at securing regulatory goodwill and a "national security" rationale for its restructuring, which critics argue prioritizes commercial interests over the original nonprofit mission of benefiting humanity. The 5% stake would be akin to a "golden share" giving the government influence but not full control. This comes amid a global race to regulate AI and growing scrutiny of Big Tech's power.