Key facts
- Senior U.S. officials discussed potential government stakes in AI companies.
- Companies might voluntarily cede shares to the government.
- Returns from these stakes could fund public purposes like household dividends.
- OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has discussed the idea with government officials since 2025.
- Anthropic is not discussing equity with the administration.
Senior U.S. officials have engaged in preliminary discussions with major artificial intelligence companies concerning the possibility of the government acquiring stakes in these firms. According to NOTUS, these conversations have explored scenarios where companies might voluntarily cede shares. The proceeds or returns generated from these potential government holdings could then be allocated towards public benefit initiatives, such as distributing dividends to American households. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has discussed the idea with government officials since President Donald Trump began his second term, first pitching the concept directly to Trump in 2025 and again with senior administration officials in recent weeks. Anthropic is reportedly not having conversations with the administration about providing equity. The report comes as OpenAI and Anthropic prepare for blockbuster initial public offerings. Reuters could not immediately confirm the report.