OpenAI Offers US Gov 5% Stake: Easing Washington Pressure

OpenAI has reportedly proposed giving the U.S. government a 5% ownership stake in the company. This move aims to ease political pressure in Washington. The proposal would give the public a direct financial interest in the rise of artificial intelligence. At a recent valuation of $852 billion, this 5% stake would be worth about $42.6 billion. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has reportedly argued that public ownership could share the benefits of AI more broadly. This idea was discussed with the Trump administration. What's interesting is that the U.S. government already holds a 10% stake in Intel. This follows an $8.9 billion investment in the chipmaker. The bottom line is that this proposal could set a template for other U.S. AI companies. It raises questions about whether public ownership in AI will become a serious policy tool.