OpenAI in talks to give Trump administration a 5% stake in the company, FT
OpenAI is in discussions to offer the Trump administration a 5% stake in the company, according to the Financial Times. The potential deal would give the U.S. government a direct ownership interest in the artificial intelligence firm.
Background
- OpenAI is the startup behind ChatGPT, valued at roughly $80B+ and structured as a capped-profit company controlled by a nonprofit board.
- The report says OpenAI is negotiating to give the Trump administration roughly a 5% equity stake, which would be an unprecedented move linking a major AI firm directly to a sitting US administration's financial interests.
- The Financial Times (FT) broke the story; CNN is citing it. Both sides are reportedly still in talks, so no deal is final.
- Why this matters: It blurs the line between government regulation and corporate ownership, raising questions about conflicts of interest — especially as the White House drafts AI policy and considers national security rules around advanced AI models.
- The 5% stake could be held in a trust or via a government entity; details are unclear but the implication is that the US government would have a formal financial incentive in OpenAI's success.