OpenAI to Offer Trump Administration a 5% Equity Stake and Other AI Firms Could Also Follow: Report - Int

OpenAI is reportedly considering offering the Trump administration a 5% equity stake as part of efforts to deepen government ties and obtain financial backing. The proposal, according to the Financial Times, follows preliminary discussions between CEO Sam Altman and the administration about distributing AI-driven financial gains to the public. The report also indicates that other U.S. AI firms could pursue similar arrangements, though their level of readiness is unclear. OpenAI and the White House did not immediately respond to Benzinga for comment. The story comes amid heightened scrutiny in Washington on AI data center expansion, job losses, and cybersecurity risks, with regulators delaying the release of advanced models from OpenAI and Anthropic. Separately, OpenAI has previously proposed a public wealth fund giving every citizen a stake in AI-related economic growth.