OpenAI CEO proposes 5% equity donation to U.S. sovereign wealth fund

OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman has floated a plan to transfer a 5% ownership share of the company to a United States sovereign wealth fund, according to two sources cited by the Financial Times. The proposal, which would also encourage similar contributions from other artificial-intelligence firms, is intended to foster favorable relations with the administration and mitigate potential political backlash.

The idea follows earlier reports that President Donald Trump discussed concepts allowing the American public to become a partner in AI companies, though no specific equity size was previously disclosed. The Financial Times notes that any formal implementation would likely need congressional approval, adding a layer of complexity.

OpenAI has previously outlined a broader public AI fund in an April policy paper titled “Industrial Policy for the Intelligence Age,” suggesting that returns could be paid directly to citizens to broaden participation in AI-driven growth. Senator Bernie Sanders introduced a more expansive version in June, proposing a one-time 50% tax on AI company stock to fund a public wealth vehicle, but the bill has not yet moved to committee.

"Returns from the Fund could be distributed directly to citizens, allowing more people to participate directly in the upside of AI-driven growth, regardless of their starting wealth or access to capital," the OpenAI document states.