The Trump administration is reportedly in talks to buy a stake in OpenAI. Senior U.S. officials have spoken with Sam Altman about the idea, a conversation that dates back to 2025 when the CEO first floated the proposal. The move would make the government a shareholder in a leading AI firm for the first time in years.

If the deal proceeds, OpenAI could voluntarily cede part of its equity to the government, mirroring its earlier Public Wealth Fund vision that would let every citizen own a slice of AI‑driven growth. No terms have solidified yet, so the size of the stake remains unclear, though the offer would echo the 10‑percent, $9 billion Intel purchase.

The talks come after the Trump administration signed an executive order granting regulators pre‑release oversight of AI models. Altman recently met with Washington policymakers to discuss regulation, and OpenAI said it would comply with the order and allow review before public release.

A government stake would deepen the public’s influence over the sector, potentially reshaping how AI profits are distributed. Meanwhile, no definitive agreement exists, and the administration’s exact ownership level remains speculative. Until terms crystallize, the proposal stays a high‑stakes conversation between a tech titan and federal policymakers.