U.S. in Talks to Buy Stake in OpenAI

The U.S. government is in talks with OpenAI to acquire a stake in the artificial intelligence company, according to sources familiar with the matter cited by CNBC. Negotiations have been underway since 2025, when CEO Sam Altman first presented the idea to the Trump administration. Discussions continued this week following Altman's meetings with legislators and officials in Washington about AI regulation and the latest advances in the technology. OpenAI is considering donating shares to the U.S. government to fund a "Public Wealth Fund," similar to a concept outlined in the company's April policy proposal, which would allow citizens to participate in AI growth benefits. President Trump recently signed an executive order requiring AI companies to voluntarily provide the government access to their models 30 days before launch. Altman expressed support for this on social media, stating that "the United States should lead in AI by continuing to develop the best models, ensuring they are safe, and putting cyber tools in the hands of trusted defenders." OpenAI was valued at $852 billion in March after completing a record $122 billion funding round and is preparing for a stock market debut, though official investment terms have not yet been agreed upon. Meanwhile, Altman admitted during a virtual appearance at a Commonwealth Bank of Australia conference in Sydney that he expected the automation of administrative jobs to occur much faster than it has. He noted that while OpenAI accurately predicted the technological direction of the AI sector when launching ChatGPT in 2022, the company miscalculated how quickly automation would transform skilled employment. "I'm glad I'm wrong—I thought by now there would have been more impact on the elimination of administrative jobs than there actually has been," Altman said. Despite companies like HSBC, Amazon, Standard Chartered, and Meta announcing that some positions are being replaced by AI systems, Altman does not believe the employment landscape points toward mass unemployment. He cited his own experience using AI to respond to messages, noting that he eventually restored human interaction because personal connection remains valuable. OpenAI is reportedly preparing for a potential IPO seeking at least $60 billion with a valuation reaching up to $1 trillion.