Altman Pitches US Government Taking Stakes in AI Companies
OpenAI's CEO floated the idea of government ownership stakes in major AI firms to US officials.
Sam Altman apparently wants Uncle Sam in the cap table. The OpenAI CEO pitched US officials on the government taking equity stakes in major AI companies, according to the Wall Street Journal.
The discussions have been ongoing between government officials and AI industry leaders, with Altman at the center of the push. He also met with Senator Bernie Sanders on Wednesday, signaling the idea is getting traction across political lines.
The concept would represent a dramatic shift in how Washington engages with the AI sector — moving from regulator to investor. Details on which companies might be involved, or what stake sizes were discussed, remain unclear.
For Altman, the pitch fits a pattern of aggressive engagement with policymakers. For the government, it would mean direct financial exposure to the industry it's simultaneously trying to oversee.