OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and the White House are in talks about a possible government equity stake in the artificial intelligence company, according to people familiar with the discussions. The conversations have been underway for more than a year and continued this week as Altman met with lawmakers and officials in Washington, CNBC confirmed.
The idea was first raised with the Trump administration in 2025, according to one source familiar with the matter. The talks are still preliminary, and no official investment terms have been agreed to.
A source said OpenAI could potentially contribute equity to the U.S. government as part of a structure similar to the company’s proposed "Public Wealth Fund." OpenAI introduced that concept in an April policy proposal, describing it as a way to invest in long-term assets and allow the public to share in the gains from AI growth. The proposal suggested Americans could ultimately receive returns from the fund.
The recent discussions were first reported by Notus.
President Donald Trump addressed the matter on Friday while speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One. He said there are concepts under consideration in which portions could be distributed to the public, allowing Americans to become partners in the upside of AI development. Trump also said he expects to meet with AI companies in the near future.
The administration’s interest in a stake in OpenAI comes as Washington has taken a more active role in the technology sector during Trump’s second term. Trump signed an executive order in February directing the federal government to establish a sovereign wealth fund. The administration has also already taken stakes in companies including Intel and IBM, along with some quantum and critical minerals firms.
OpenAI has become a central player in the White House’s AI policy discussions. Trump signed a directive on Friday instructing national security agencies to speed up AI adoption and quickly onboard advanced models from multiple vendors. That move followed a separate executive order earlier this month asking AI companies to give the government access to their models for up to 30 days before public release. Several industry executives, including Altman, publicly backed that order.
Altman has also been involved in broader policy talks on AI in Washington. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., told CNBC that he and Altman discussed the idea of a sovereign wealth fund during a meeting on Wednesday.
OpenAI is now valued by private investors at more than $850 billion and is reportedly preparing for a possible initial public offering as soon as this year. The company also completed a record funding round in March, co-led by MGX, which is backed by Abu Dhabi’s sovereign wealth fund.
The possible government stake would represent another sign of how closely the Trump administration is tying its AI strategy to major industry players. For OpenAI, it would also raise questions about the relationship between a leading private AI firm and the federal government as both sides push for a bigger role in shaping the technology’s future.