OpenAI Explored Granting U.S. Government 5% Equity Stake

OpenAI explored granting the U.S. government a 5% equity stake in a plan designed to extend AI-generated gains to the American public while addressing political concerns about the sector, the Financial Times reported on July 2, 2026.

OpenAI floated the equity stake in early talks. The concept stays at an initial phase and was reportedly put forward by CEO Sam Altman in conversations with federal representatives. Any final version would likely require Congressional approval.

The San Francisco-based company has not commented on the report. CoinDesk reached out to OpenAI for further comment.

The plan draws from Alaska's Permanent Fund model. Major U.S. AI developers would reportedly place comparable equity portions into a shared public fund. Proceeds from that vehicle would flow to citizens, following the Alaskan system's method of dispersing earnings from public assets.

The initiative aims to give the American public a direct financial stake in the sector's long-term growth. Discussions reportedly involved senior Trump administration officials, including Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.

Uncertainty surrounds broader industry support. It is unclear whether other major AI companies, including Anthropic, Google and Meta, would back a similar arrangement. The Financial Times cited two people familiar with the talks.

OpenAI's IPO timeline remains fluid. The company confidentially filed draft IPO paperwork with the SEC in June 2026. Recent reports suggest advisers are weighing a delay until 2027, and OpenAI has indicated it has not committed to a listing timeline.