Sam Altman Proposes 5% AI Company Stake to US Government, If Rivals Agree

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman is discussing a proposal to offer the U.S. government a 5% stake in the company, contingent upon competitors agreeing to the same terms. Altman has met with former President Donald Trump and officials from the Commerce and Treasury departments to explain his idea, expressing a desire to encourage major AI companies like Meta, Google, and Anthropic to contribute a 5% stake to the public. He has also shared his views with Senator Bernie Sanders, a proponent of expanding public ownership of AI companies.

Altman's proposal comes as OpenAI and its competitor Anthropic are reportedly preparing for initial public offerings (IPOs). Anthropic has recently been reported to be working with government agencies following an update to its relationship with the White House and former President Trump, and its removal from a Department of Defense supply chain risk blacklist.

This move is seen as an effort to broadly distribute the economic benefits stemming from AI technological advancements and to effectively manage the AI industry within the United States. The participation of competitors could be a decisive factor in the proposal's success. The suggestion is expected to spark debate over the public utilization and benefit-sharing of the AI industry.