U.S. Officials Explore Equity Stakes in Major AI Companies
Senior U.S. officials have held preliminary discussions with major AI companies about acquiring equity stakes as a way to distribute AI's economic benefits to the public, according to reporting by NOTUS on Thursday. The talks center on companies voluntarily ceding shares to the government, with potential returns directed toward initiatives like dividend payments to American households.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman pitched the concept to President Trump in 2025 and has continued discussions with administration officials in recent weeks, the report said. Anthropic is not engaged in similar talks with the administration.
The discussions come as both companies prepare for major public offerings. OpenAI is preparing to confidentially file for an IPO, while Anthropic filed for a U.S. IPO on Monday.
Government AI Oversight Expanding
The equity discussions are part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to shape AI development. On Tuesday, Trump signed an executive order requiring leading AI developers to voluntarily submit their most capable models for government cybersecurity testing before public release.
In May, the administration announced it would take $2 billion in equity stakes across nine quantum-computing firms.
What's Next
Planning remains preliminary with details still in flux. OpenAI, Anthropic, and the White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
For government professionals overseeing AI policy and strategy, these developments signal shifting expectations around private sector collaboration. Learn more about AI for Government or explore AI for Executives & Strategy to understand how these policy changes may affect your work.
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