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FT: OpenAI in Talks to Give US Government a 5% Stake

July 2, 2026 at 00:33 EDT

Policy & Regulation
Funding & M&A

The Financial Times reported on July 2, 2026 that OpenAI, the developer of ChatGPT, has begun discussions about handing the US government a 5% stake in the company. Citing two people familiar with the talks, the report stresses this is an ongoing discussion rather than a finalized agreement.

July 2, 2026 · OpenAI

OpenAI Floats Giving the US Government a 5% Stake

In early-stage, unfinalized talks, Sam Altman and OpenAI executives have proposed the US government hold a 5% equity stake — envisioned as a template for other leading American AI developers, funneled through a government vehicle.

Equity stake under discussion for OpenAI

$850B+

OpenAI valuation by private investors

Firms potentially in scope: OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, Meta

Two ownership visions on the table

Same unit — share of a big AI company the government would own. OpenAI's proposal vs. Senator Sanders' position.

OpenAI
proposal

50%

Sen. Sanders'
position

How it would work — the Public Wealth Fund

AI firms seed equity / assets

→

Fund invests in diversified long-term assets

→

Proceeds returned to all citizens

Some hope

Support for the underlying idea of distributing AI's economic benefits broadly across the population.

Skepticism

Irony that a former nonprofit is handing equity to government, plus wariness over data deals and closeness to the administration.

Not a done deal. As of July 2, 2026 the talks are fluid and unfinalized. It remains undetermined whether they lead to a formal agreement — or whether other AI companies follow. The proposal is a matter of governance and industrial policy, not product specifications.

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