OpenAI Discusses Potential 5% Stake for US Government
OpenAI is in preliminary talks to give the US government a 5% stake in the company. The proposal is part of a broader effort to share the benefits of AI with the public.
OpenAI may give the US government a 5% stake in the company, according to a person familiar with the matter. The proposal is in very preliminary conversations. If the overture is taken up by the Trump administration, that would mean the government would have a vested interest in weighing whether or not to limit the release of an OpenAI model.
OpenAI views the potential government stake as a way to give the general public a share of the upside of AI. CEO Sam Altman has previously shared his interest in some sort of public wealth fund. The goal is to include other AI labs giving over a similar stake, which could look like including shares in accounts that would give American households exposure to investments in AI.
The potential investment comes as the White House is still deciding when OpenAI can release its most powerful models widely, through a regulatory process that Altman has said isn't quite optimal. Altman proposed a US-led international forum to establish AI regulatory standards, which could be a way to allow the government to invest without having as heavy a hand in regulation.
Investors tell Axios that the idea of giving a stake reads like a PR stunt aimed at making it seem as if the public could benefit from the AI boom just as the technology threatens their jobs. However, the government's 9.9% stake in Intel, taken last August, appears to have paid off, with its shares up nearly 400% since then.
Go Deeper
What is the proposed stake that OpenAI may give to the US government?
The proposed stake is 5% of the company.
What is the goal of including other AI labs in the proposal?
The goal is to give American households exposure to investments in AI through shares in accounts or other vehicles.
What is the current regulatory process for releasing OpenAI models?
The White House is still deciding when OpenAI can release its most powerful models widely, through a regulatory process that Altman has said isn't quite optimal.
How has the government's stake in Intel performed?
The government's 9.9% stake in Intel, taken last August, appears to have paid off, with its shares up nearly 400% since then.
What are some alternative ways to share the financial benefits of AI?
Some have suggested that AI companies share a percent of pre-tax income or that the government impose a tax on all tokens, while others have proposed an automated robot tax.
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