OpenAI proposed donating 5% of its equity to a US sovereign wealth fund
OpenAI has proposed donating 5% of its equity to a US sovereign wealth fund, according to a report. The unusual proposal would see the AI company contribute a portion of its ownership stake to a government-controlled investment fund, potentially linking the company's success directly to public financial interests.
Background
- OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT, recently completed a record $40B fundraising round that valued it at $300B — much of it coming from SoftBank.
- As part of a pitch to the US government to allow that deal to proceed without regulatory hurdles, OpenAI reportedly offered to donate 5% of its equity (worth ~$15B at the current valuation) to a US sovereign wealth fund.
- A sovereign wealth fund (SWF) is a state-owned investment fund — the US does not currently have one, though politicians like Donald Trump and J.D. Vance have floated the idea.
- The offer reflects how major AI companies see their growth as dependent on government goodwill (on antitrust, national security, and export controls), and are increasingly willing to cede some ownership to secure it.
- Critics argue the move could entangle federal policy with OpenAI's profitability, while supporters see it as a way for the public to benefit from AI-driven economic gains.