OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has proposed giving the US government a 5% equity stake in the company — worth roughly $42.6 billion at OpenAI’s current private valuation — and wants every major American AI lab to do the same.
What Altman Is Proposing
The Financial Times reported that Altman pitched the idea directly to President Trump, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, as well as Senator Bernie Sanders. The proposal is modeled on Alaska’s Permanent Fund, where oil revenue is distributed to state residents. Under Altman’s version, the government stake would be held in a national AI dividend fund.
Crucially, Altman is not just proposing OpenAI contribute — he wants every leading US AI company, including Anthropic, Google, Meta, and Elon Musk’s xAI, to each contribute matching 5% stakes to the same fund. That would put the combined value of the fund well into the hundreds of billions of dollars.
The IPO Angle
The timing is significant. OpenAI has been weighing its IPO timeline with reports of a potential delay to 2027 after Altman refused to list below a $1 trillion valuation. A government stake proposal could serve multiple strategic goals: building political goodwill ahead of a public listing, creating regulatory goodwill with the Trump administration, and potentially pre-empting harsher legislative action.
A Senate bill that would tax AI companies at 50% has been circulating — OpenAI’s stake offer is widely seen as an attempt to offer something smaller and more cooperative in exchange for that bill dying in committee.
The Competitive Context
The proposal comes as OpenAI faces increasing pressure on multiple fronts. Anthropic overtook OpenAI in business subscriptions in May 2026, and Similarweb data shows monthly visits to ChatGPT fell below a majority of the generative AI market for the first time. Anthropic is also pursuing its own IPO at a $965 billion valuation — above OpenAI’s last private mark.
By proposing a sector-wide government stake rather than just an OpenAI-only contribution, Altman is also putting pressure on rivals: if the Trump administration endorses the framework, every major AI lab would face similar expectations.
Reaction
The proposal has drawn mixed responses. Bipartisan political support exists for the concept of public AI dividends — the Alaska model resonates across party lines. But critics argue that a 5% stake in companies worth hundreds of billions is a small price for regulatory cover, and that it does nothing to address concerns about AI safety, labor displacement, or market concentration.
No formal announcement has been made. The White House is separately finalizing voluntary AI release standards with OpenAI, Google, and Anthropic — an announcement is expected in the coming days.
FAQ
How much is OpenAI’s proposed 5% stake worth?
At OpenAI’s last private valuation of roughly $852 billion, a 5% stake would be worth approximately $42.6 billion. The actual figure would depend on the valuation used at the time of any formal transfer.
Would other AI companies be required to participate?
Altman’s proposal envisions Anthropic, Google, Meta, and xAI all contributing matching 5% stakes. This would be voluntary under Altman’s framework, though the political dynamics could make it difficult to decline.
What would the government do with the stake?
The proposal is modeled on Alaska’s Permanent Fund — returns from the stake would be distributed broadly to American citizens, functioning as a national AI dividend.
