On June 5, 2026, President Donald Trump announced that he is in discussions with leaders of major artificial intelligence companies regarding the government's potential acquisition of shares in these firms. Trump stated that he has been exploring this idea with tech executives for over a year and aims to invite them to the White House for discussions next week.
Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, has engaged with Trump about the possibility of voluntarily ceding shares of AI companies to the government, which could lead to dividends being paid to the American public. Trump emphasized the potential benefits for the public, suggesting that such a partnership could allow citizens to share in the success of AI.
While Trump expressed optimism about the proposal, critics have raised concerns that federal involvement might hinder innovation and growth within the AI sector. Some, including Senator Bernie Sanders, have called for the government to take a more significant stake, proposing control over at least 50% of shares.
Representatives from Anthropic and OpenAI did not respond to inquiries about their participation in the upcoming meeting, although Trump indicated that all major AI companies would be represented. However, a source familiar with the situation noted that Anthropic is not currently in discussions with the administration about equity provisions.
