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OpenAI Courts Trump administration as Its Latest Investor

OpenAI is reportedly seeking investment from the Trump administration as it courts the federal government amid a broader push to expand its influence in Washington, D.C.

Background

OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, is reportedly seeking a major investment from the U.S. federal government or entities linked to the Trump administration. This marks a sharp reversal: OpenAI was founded as a non-profit with a mission to develop AI safely and openly, and CEO Sam Altman had previously been critical of Trump. The stake being discussed is likely tied to "Stargate," a massive AI infrastructure project announced by Trump early in his term, with SoftBank, Oracle, and OpenAI as key partners. The move highlights how AI companies are increasingly courting government funding and political alignment to secure the enormous capital and regulatory support they need to build expensive data centers and stay competitive. It also raises questions about OpenAI's shift from its original non-profit ethos toward a more commercially and politically entangled future.

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