The tech industry is experiencing a plot twist worthy of a Hollywood blockbuster. OpenAI, the entity behind the well-known ChatGPT, has put forward a proposal that has left more than a few people speechless: offer the United States government a 5% stake in its corporate structure. Sam Altman, the firm's most visible figure, has held direct talks with the Donald Trump administration to explore this avenue, which seeks to strengthen ties with Washington at a time when the regulation of artificial intelligence is at the center of attention.
This maneuver is not merely a matter of corporate diplomacy; it is presented as a strategy to ensure that the economic benefits derived from the rise of AI reach citizens directly. The idea, already being discussed in the corridors of power in the US, is to create a kind of sovereign wealth fund to manage these actions. Although it may seem distant to us in Europe, this move sets a global precedent for how states could begin to more directly oversee the companies that are defining the future of technology and the labor market.
A multi-billion dollar pie on Trump's table
If we do the math, the numbers are staggering. Considering OpenAI's current valuation, that 5% being discussed would have a approximate value of 42.600 billion dollarsAltman has not only floated the proposal, but has also taken the issue to key figures such as the Secretary of Commerce and the Secretary of the Treasury. The objective is clear: to demonstrate that artificial intelligence is not just a business for a privileged few in Silicon Valley, but an engine of growth that can benefit the entire nation through a public ownership model.
The interesting thing is that OpenAI doesn't want to be the only one on this ship. The proposal suggests that other giants in the sector, such as Anthropic, Google, and Meta, also contribute a similar percentage of their capital. For now, these companies are waiting to see what happens and haven't shown overwhelming enthusiasm for the idea. However, in an environment where the pressure for political control of AI As the number of shares increases, this voluntary transfer of shares could be a smart way to avoid much more aggressive regulations or even potential national security blocks.
The Alaskan mirror and the Intel precedent
To understand exactly what they intend, one must look at the Alaska Permanent Fund, which distributes oil profits among its residents. OpenAI aspires to something similar, where AI revenues are reinvested in society. This approach to State capitalism in the technology sector There is a recent precedent: the US government's acquisition of a nearly 10% stake in Intel through the CHIPS Act. It seems the Trump administration has developed a taste for partnering with Big Tech to ensure national sovereignty against competitors like China.
In Europe, these kinds of moves are closely watched. While we tend to favor strict regulatory frameworks like the AI ​​Act, seeing the US taking direct stakes in these companies changes the game. This move could pave the way for OpenAI to achieve its goals. anticipated IPOHaving the explicit backing of the White House would undoubtedly reassure international investors and help dispel doubts about the ethical and social impact of their models.
Tight control before the pitches
It's not all about money and dividends; security plays a fundamental role in this potential agreement. Recently, we've seen how the government has intervened in the launch of new models, forcing companies like Anthropic to pause their development due to national security risks. OpenAI, for its part, has already begun to collaborate more closely with the authoritiesallowing federal agencies to review their tools, as happened with the limited version of GPT-5.6, before they reach the general public to avoid critical vulnerabilities.
Although negotiations are still in a very early stage and would need congressional approval, Altman's intention is clear. By proposing a government partnership, OpenAI seeks to protect itself in an increasingly complex political climate where Citizens fear losing their jobs through automation. At the end of the day, it's about weaving a political safety net that allows the company to continue innovating at high speed without having to be constantly in the crosshairs of regulators or coalitions of attorneys general.
The proposal to cede some control to Washington is a bold move that could transform the relationship between tech companies and political power. By bringing the government on board as a shareholder, OpenAI not only seeks regulatory stability ahead of its upcoming IPO, but also attempts to socially legitimize its business model by promising a distribution of the wealth generated by its algorithmsIf this plan comes to fruition and is extended to other companies in the sector, we could be witnessing the birth of a new paradigm where the success of artificial intelligence is directly linked to the economic benefit of citizens, setting a course that will undoubtedly serve as a reference for future technology policies worldwide.