Trump Talks OpenAI Equity Stake for Public Fund
SkimNews Take
The proposal to fund a Public Wealth Fund through an equity stake in OpenAI suggests a shift towards public ownership models for essential infrastructure, even if the "infrastructure" is intellectual property rather than physical assets.
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- President Trump said he has spoken to AI executives about deals that would give the American public a partnership stake in AI companies.
- CNBC reported that the Trump administration is discussing an equity stake in OpenAI, with some of the equity potentially used to seed OpenAI’s proposed “Public Wealth Fund” that would distribute proceeds directly to citizens.
- Bloomberg reported that Sam Altman has been discussing a government stake in major AI companies since early 2025.
- Bernie Sanders proposed a one‑time 50% tax on AI firms such as OpenAI, Anthropic, and xAI, payable in stock, to give the public a direct role in AI wealth.
- David Sacks, former Trump AI and crypto czar and current co‑chair of the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology, warned that a government stake could accelerate corporate‑government fusion.
Why it matters: U.S. citizens would receive direct payouts from a Public Wealth Fund funded by an OpenAI stake, while the government would gain ownership and influence over AI firms, reshaping profit distribution and regulatory oversight.
