July 2, 2026
ChatGPT Goes to Washington?
OpenAI: In early talks to give 5% stake to US Government
OpenAI’s 5% government stake idea sparks bribe jokes, tax rage, and bailout fears
TLDR: OpenAI is reportedly discussing giving the US government a 5% stake, pitching it as a way for the public to benefit from the AI boom. Commenters are split between calling it a bribe, a bailout setup, or a laughably tiny substitute for simply taxing rich tech companies properly.
OpenAI may be floating one of the wildest peace offerings in tech politics: giving the US government a 5% stake in the company behind ChatGPT, reportedly as part of early talks to smooth things over with Donald Trump’s administration. The pitch, according to the Financial Times, is that ordinary Americans should somehow share in the riches of the artificial intelligence boom. But in the comments, people were far less interested in the glossy public-benefit story and much more interested in calling the whole thing suspicious, stingy, or downright hilarious.
The sharpest reaction? A giant side-eye. One commenter basically asked whether this was a bribe dressed up as patriotism, while another sniped that they’d rather see Sam Altman and friends just pay normal progressive taxes like everyone else. That mood dominated: less “wow, the public gets a slice” and more “is this a workaround, a favor, or a future bailout coupon?” One especially cynical hot take said the real point of a government stake is simple: secure the bailout before the crash.
Still, not everyone hated the concept. Some pointed out that people have been demanding the public share in AI profits for ages, so this is at least kind of that. But even supporters sounded cranky, with one scoffing that if Altman truly believes the public deserves the upside, why stop at 5% and not 50%? In other words: the internet heard “share the wealth” and instantly replied, “Cute. Now show us the real number.”
Key Points
- •OpenAI is reportedly in early conceptual talks to give a 5% stake to the US government, according to the Financial Times.
- •The reported proposal could extend to other major US AI companies, including Anthropic, Google, and Meta, though no agreement is indicated.
- •The article links the proposal to efforts to improve AI industry relations with the Trump administration and to share AI-generated wealth with the public.
- •The report comes amid increased pressure from Washington on AI companies, including Anthropic’s recent temporary restriction of its newest model over government safety concerns.
- •OpenAI and Anthropic have previously supported the idea of a public or sovereign wealth fund, and both are reportedly preparing for US stock market listings that some investors believe could value them above $1tn each.