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OpenAI is reportedly considering offering the U.S. government a 5% equity stake as part of a broader effort to deepen ties with the Trump administration and secure financial backing. <\/p>\n
CEO Sam Altman has reportedly held preliminary discussions with the Trump administration about a proposal to distribute AI-driven financial gains to the public, the\u00a0Financial Times reported on Thursday. <\/p>\n
Altman has been actively engaging with key figures in the administration, including President Donald Trump, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. According to the FT report, Altman has also recently spoken with Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) on the matter. <\/p>\n
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This potential agreement could also see other American AI firms offer a similar stake, although their readiness to do so has yet to be confirmed, according to the report. <\/p>\n
OpenAI and White House did not immediately respond to Benzinga’s request for comments. <\/p>\n
Sanders Pushes AI Equity <\/p>\n
This move comes in the wake of Sanders’ call for expanded public ownership of AI-driven wealth. He has argued that the benefits of AI should not be controlled solely by wealthy tech leaders. Sanders has also introduced legislation for the proposed American AI Sovereign Wealth Fund Act, which could see the fund grow to approximately $7 trillion. <\/p>\n
Meanwhile, in April, OpenAI proposed creating a public wealth fund that would give every citizen a stake in AI-driven economic growth. The company says such a fund could provide people with a lasting share of the value generated by AI, even if they are not invested in financial markets. <\/p>\n
AI labs are facing increased scrutiny in Washington over data center expansion, job losses, and cybersecurity risks, with regulators delaying the release of advanced AI models from OpenAI and Anthropic amid calls from some Republicans and Trump advisers for stricter oversight. <\/p>\n
Trending: Avoid the #1 Investing Mistake: How Your ‘Safe’ Holdings Could Be Costing You Big Time<\/a> <\/p>\n Trump Administration’s High-Profile Stakes <\/p>\n The Trump Administration has been actively acquiring stakes in several companies. In 2025, the government acquired a 9.9% stake in Intel Corporation, purchasing 433.3 million shares at $20.47 each through an $8.9 billion investment tied to the CHIPS Act and Secure Enclave funding. <\/p>\n At Intel’s current price of $127.02, the government’s stake is now worth approximately $55.03 billion, representing an unrealized gain of about $46.13 billion, or roughly a 6.2x return on the original $8.9 billion investment. Trump has also expressed regret in the past for not asking for a larger stake in Intel, considering its skyrocketing stock price. <\/p>\n Besides Intel, the Trump administration has also acquired a 15% stake in rare earth producer\u00a0MP Materials, a 10% stake in\u00a0Lithium Americas Corp., a 10% stake in\u00a0Trilogy Metals Inc., and a “golden share” (veto power over major corporate decisions, rather than a traditional equity stake) in US Steel Corporation as part of its acquisition by Japan’s\u00a0Nippon Steel Corp.\u00a0(OTCPK: NISTF)<\/a>. <\/p>\n Image via Shutterstock <\/p>\n Read Next:\u00a0 <\/p>\n Building Wealth Across More Than Just the Market <\/p>\n Building a resilient portfolio means thinking beyond a single asset or market trend. Economic cycles shift, sectors rise and fall, and no one investment performs well in every environment. That’s why many investors look to diversify with platforms that provide access to real estate, fixed-income opportunities, precious metals, and even self-directed retirement accounts. By spreading exposure across multiple asset classes, it becomes easier to manage risk, capture steady returns, and create long-term wealth that isn’t tied to the fortunes of just one company or industry. <\/p>\n Arrived <\/p>\n Backed by Jeff Bezos, Arrived Homes makes real estate investing accessible with a low barrier to entry. Investors can buy fractional shares of single-family rentals and vacation homes starting with as little as $100<\/a>. This allows everyday investors to diversify into real estate, collect rental income, and build long-term wealth without needing to manage properties directly. <\/p>\n FarmTogether <\/p>\n Farmland has historically held its value through market volatility and delivered returns uncorrelated to stocks and bonds. For accredited investors, FarmTogether offers direct access to high-quality U.S. farmland starting at $15,000<\/a> \u2014 fully managed, with no landlord headaches. <\/p>\n Fundrise <\/p>\n Private real estate and private credit can add income and stability to a stock-heavy portfolio. Fundrise offers access to diversified private real estate<\/a> and credit strategies through an easy-to-use platform, with professionally managed portfolios designed to generate passive income and long-term growth. <\/p>\n Realberry <\/p>\n Institutional-quality real estate has traditionally been difficult for individual investors to access. Realberry gives accredited investors direct access to private real estate opportunities <\/a>backed by a team with 35 years of experience, $3.4 billion in assets under management, and $481 million in cumulative distributions paid to investors as of Q4 2025, according to the company. With a portfolio spanning 13 million square feet across seven U.S. states, Realberry focuses on acquiring, developing, and managing real estate with an emphasis on long-term value creation while its principals often invest alongside clients to help align interests. <\/p>\n Immersed <\/p>\n Immersed is building technology for the future of work through spatial computing<\/a>. Known for its AR\/VR productivity platform that enables users to work across multiple virtual screens, the company has grown to more than 1.5 million users worldwide. Immersed is also developing Visor, a lightweight headset designed specifically for professional productivity, positioning the company at the intersection of remote work, extended reality (XR), and next-generation computing. <\/p>\n BluSky AI <\/p>\n The rapid adoption of artificial intelligence is creating significant demand for data centers, power, and compute infrastructure. BluSky AI is building modular AI data centers designed to support next-generation AI workloads while aiming to reduce deployment timelines compared to traditional facilities. <\/a>For investors looking beyond AI software and applications, the company offers exposure to the infrastructure layer that makes artificial intelligence possible. <\/p>\n ARK7 <\/p>\n Residential real estate has historically provided investors with income potential and long-term appreciation, but direct ownership can be expensive and time-consuming. ARK7 enables investors to buy fractional shares of rental properties, offering access to potential rental income and real estate exposure without property management responsibilities.<\/a> By lowering the barrier to entry, the platform gives investors another way to diversify beyond traditional stocks and bonds. <\/p>\n Miso Robotics <\/p>\n Robotics and automation are becoming increasingly important tools for businesses facing labor shortages and rising operating costs. Miso Robotics develops AI-powered kitchen technology that is already being deployed in restaurant environments, with products designed to help operators improve efficiency and streamline operations.<\/a> As artificial intelligence expands beyond software and into real-world applications, the company is positioning itself at the intersection of robotics, automation and the future of food service. <\/p>\n Vinovest\u00a0 <\/p>\n Fine wine and rare whiskey have historically moved independently of the stock market, making them a compelling alternative asset. Vinovest manages authenticated, insured portfolios of investment-grade wine and whiskey starting at $5,000<\/a> \u2014 sourcing, storage, and insurance all handled for you. <\/p>\n EquityMultiple\u00a0 <\/p>\n For accredited investors looking beyond stocks and bonds, EquityMultiple provides access to vetted commercial real estate deals starting at $5,000<\/a>,<\/a> with only ~5% of opportunities passing their due diligence process.\u00a0 <\/p>\n Mode Mobile <\/p>\n