President Donald Trump has signaled growing interest in ensuring Americans share directly in the financial gains generated by artificial intelligence, revealing that his administration has been discussing arrangements with leading AI companies that could give the public a stake in one of the most transformative technologies of the modern era.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on Friday, Trump said he had held conversations with executives from artificial intelligence firms about potential structures that would allow ordinary Americans to benefit financially from the sector’s explosive growth.
“I’ve been talking to them about concepts where pieces could be given to the American public, where the American public essentially becomes a partner with the companies,” Trump said.
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The remarks offer the clearest indication yet that the administration is exploring mechanisms that would link the fortunes of AI companies with the broader public, a concept that would represent a significant departure from the traditional model in which the rewards of technological breakthroughs accrue primarily to founders, venture capital investors, and public shareholders.
While Trump did not identify specific companies, attention has increasingly focused on OpenAI, the developer of ChatGPT and one of the world’s most valuable private technology firms.
Reports indicate that administration officials have discussed the possibility of the U.S. government acquiring an equity stake in OpenAI. Such a stake could potentially help fund a proposed “Public Wealth Fund,” an idea championed by the company as a way to spread the benefits of AI-driven economic growth more broadly across society.
Under OpenAI’s proposal, proceeds from the fund could be distributed directly to citizens, allowing Americans to participate in wealth creation generated by artificial intelligence regardless of their income level or investment portfolio.
The discussions highlight how rapidly AI has moved from being a technology story to a political and economic issue. As valuations of leading AI companies soar into the hundreds of billions of dollars, policymakers across the political spectrum are increasingly debating whether the gains should be shared more widely.
The idea appears to have been under discussion for months. According to reports, OpenAI Chief Executive Officer Sam Altman has explored the concept of government ownership stakes in major AI firms since early 2025.
The initiative also aligns with Trump’s growing willingness to consider government ownership in strategically important industries. Last year, the federal government took a 10% stake in struggling chipmaker Intel, a move that marked an unusual intervention in the private sector and reflected Washington’s determination to preserve domestic technology capabilities.
The emerging debate has created an unusual convergence between elements of the political right and left. This week, Democratic Senator Bernie Sanders proposed a one-time 50% tax on leading AI companies, including OpenAI, Anthropic, and xAI, with the tax paid in shares rather than cash.
Sanders argued that public ownership would provide citizens with a direct stake in the future of artificial intelligence while helping ensure that wealth generated by the technology benefits society as a whole.
The senator said such a structure would “give the public a direct role in determining the future of this technology” and “guarantee that the trillions of dollars potentially generated by A.I. are used to improve the lives of all of us.”
The proposal comes off growing concern that AI could create unprecedented concentrations of wealth. Industry leaders themselves have warned that advanced AI systems may eventually automate large segments of the workforce, potentially disrupting labor markets while creating enormous profits for technology companies.
Not everyone is convinced that government ownership is the answer.
David Sacks, an investor who recently stepped down from his role as Trump’s AI and crypto adviser, acknowledged the political appeal of the idea but warned about its broader implications.
He said he understood why Sanders’ proposal resonated “including with many on the right,” but cautioned that it could “accelerate the corporate-government fusion we’re already sliding toward.”
The debate has also fueled speculation about the financial health of some AI companies. Former Microsoft executive Dare Obasanjo suggested on social media that discussions around public ownership could eventually pave the way for government support of major AI firms if financing conditions become more difficult.
“The groundwork is already being laid for a government bailout of OpenAI,” he wrote.
The move comes when several leading AI firms, including OpenAI and Anthropic, are widely expected to pursue public listings, potentially creating trillions of dollars in new market value. Combined with the anticipated IPO of SpaceX, the listings are expected to reshape global equity markets and concentrate even more investor attention on artificial intelligence.