Citing people familiar with the discussions, the report said OpenAI has also suggested that other major U.S. artificial intelligence companies consider similar equity allocations for the federal government, though it remains unclear whether competitors would support such a move.
The idea reflects broader political and economic tension around AI, including concerns that the technology could disrupt labor markets and concentrate wealth in a small number of firms. It also signals a possible attempt by OpenAI to strengthen its relationship with policymakers as regulation of advanced models intensifies.
The proposal reportedly comes amid increasing government involvement in AI oversight. According to the FT, a Trump administration request led OpenAI to delay the wider release of its latest model, GPT-5.6, last week. Around the same period, rival Anthropic temporarily restricted access to some of its most advanced systems, including Fable 5, following a government directive limiting foreign access. Those restrictions were later eased.
Reuters noted it could not independently verify the Financial Times report. OpenAI, Anthropic, xAI parent SpaceX, Alphabet’s Google, and the White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Public anxiety about AI-driven job losses appears to be shaping the political environment. A Reuters/Ipsos poll published in June found that about half of Americans fear AI could result in job loss for themselves or someone in their household.
A “pre-IPO” governance experiment
The reported discussions are also tied to broader uncertainty ahead of planned initial public offerings by leading AI firms such as OpenAI and Anthropic. Companies in the sector are increasingly seeking ways to reduce regulatory risk while maintaining investor confidence in a rapidly evolving policy landscape.
The idea under consideration would involve allocating roughly 5% of equity from major U.S. AI firms into a government-linked structure inspired by the Alaska Permanent Fund, which distributes returns from state oil revenues to residents.
The concept has attracted attention from both political leaders and industry executives. Former President Donald Trump has previously suggested that the public should receive a direct stake in leading AI companies, arguing that Americans should share in the financial upside of the technology. Senator Bernie Sanders has gone further, proposing a far larger government share—up to 50%—on the grounds that AI systems are built on publicly available human knowledge.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has reportedly discussed aspects of the proposal with senior U.S. officials, including Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, as well as meeting Sanders earlier in June, according to the FT report.
The company has previously advocated for the creation of a “public wealth fund” that would invest in AI companies and redistribute gains to citizens. Anthropic has similarly proposed a “digital dividend” model, which would fund public payouts through taxes or levies on the AI sector.
Policy, markets, and global ripple effects
Analysts suggest that a government equity stake could reduce regulatory uncertainty for U.S. firms, but it may also introduce new geopolitical complications. Forrester analyst Indranil Bandyopadhyay noted that such a move could reshape expectations beyond the United States.
“Expect other jurisdictions to demand analogous arrangements as a condition of market access and expect enterprise buyers in Europe and Asia-Pacific to reassess data sovereignty and neutrality assumptions about US model providers.”
The proposal also aligns with broader U.S. government efforts to gain strategic influence in critical technology sectors. In recent years, Washington has converted parts of federal support into equity stakes in companies tied to semiconductors and industrial supply chains, including holdings in Intel and MP Materials.
If extended to artificial intelligence firms, such a model would mark a significant shift in how the U.S. government interacts with privately held frontier technology companies—blurring the line between regulator, investor, and stakeholder in one of the world’s fastest-moving industries.