OpenAI wants to give the US government a slice of its pie

Sam Altman has a bold idea: hand over 5 percent of OpenAI’s equity to a US sovereign wealth fund. The Financial Times reports this move is partly about smoothing relations with Washington and easing political tensions around AI’s rapid growth. Other AI companies might follow suit, though the details are still fuzzy.

This isn’t a new conversation. Back in June, President Trump mentioned exploring ways for the American public to share in AI’s financial gains, and now OpenAI is putting a number on it. The company has been refining the idea for months, even publishing a policy paper in April suggesting a public fund that could invest in AI and distribute returns directly to citizens.

The background here is a growing debate over who benefits from AI’s economic boom. OpenAI, a leader in the field, has been at the center of discussions about regulation, ethics, and now, shared prosperity. Meanwhile, Senator Bernie Sanders has pushed a more aggressive plan: a 50 percent tax on AI company stock, with the proceeds going into a public wealth fund. His proposal targets major players in AI, from data centers to robotics, though it’s still stuck in the early stages.

Why should you care? If this idea gains traction, it could mean everyday Americans get a direct stake in the AI economy, not just investors and tech elites. But there are real questions about how it would work, who would control the fund, and whether Congress would even approve it. Some worry it’s a way for companies to curry favor, while others see it as a step toward fairness in an industry that could reshape the economy.

What happens next is unclear. The proposal is still preliminary, and any formal action would likely need congressional approval, which is never a guarantee. Watch for reactions from lawmakers, other tech companies, and the public as this idea gets debated.

Would giving the public a share in AI companies actually make the industry more accountable? And how much control should the government have over how these funds are used?

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Filed under: AIFund, OpenAI, TechPolicy, SovereignWealth, SamAltman