OpenAI in talks to grant US government 5% stake in bid to ease regulatory concerns

The proposed equity arrangement would see Washington hold similar positions in other leading AI developers, signaling a shift toward state-backed oversight of the sector.

By Handelsavisen Newsroom · Automated 2026-07-02 09:41 UTC · 1 min read

OpenAI is reportedly in discussions with the Trump administration to grant the U.S. government a 5% equity stake in the company.

The proposal, first detailed by the Financial Times, appears designed to address growing regulatory concerns regarding the concentration of power in private artificial intelligence firms.

The arrangement would not be limited to OpenAI.

According to reports, the framework extends to other major U.S. AI developers, potentially establishing a precedent for government ownership stakes in the sector’s leading players.

This move marks a significant departure from traditional regulatory approaches, which have focused on compliance and safety standards rather than direct equity participation.

For investors, the prospect of government ownership introduces new variables into the valuation models of AI giants.