OpenAI proposes giving US stake to blunt public skepticism over AI expansion

Sam Altman is engaged in early-stage negotiations with the Trump administration regarding a possible government investment in OpenAI, with a reported 5 percent stake under discussion. The proposal stems from Altman's belief that allowing the public to share in AI's financial gains could help shift widespread anxiety around the technology.

The broader negotiation#

The Trump administration has reportedly approached multiple AI leaders about similar equity arrangements. Both Google and Meta have been targeted with similar proposals, though neither company has publicly endorsed a 5 percent allocation as appropriate. Notably, Meta has resisted even sharing frontier AI models with government officials for safety review, suggesting reluctance toward greater public oversight.

Fighting the "AI hate wave"#

American sentiment toward artificial intelligence has soured considerably. Recent polling shows troubling trends for the industry: 70 percent of Americans oppose new AI data centers in their communities, and roughly half express more concern than enthusiasm about AI's broader trajectory. Even adoption of AI tools like chatbots isn't shifting underlying skepticism—younger adults included express reservations about how rapidly the technology is advancing.

This public backlash poses real political consequences. Lawmakers from both parties now hear consistent voter demands for stricter AI regulation, creating electoral pressure that complicates the industry's push for lighter-touch oversight.

The sovereignty angle#

OpenAI has proposed establishing a government-backed sovereign wealth fund modeled on Alaska's oil revenue system, which would invest AI gains into financial assets and distribute returns to the state and residents. The administration, meanwhile, has resisted tighter regulation partly on the grounds that it could weaken American competitiveness against China's AI ambitions.

By offering financial participation rather than just regulatory concessions, both Altman and Trump appear to believe the public might develop a stake—literal and psychological—in AI's success.