Trump says US could take equity stakes in AI companies

In short: President Donald Trump said the US may become a part-owner of leading AI companies so the public can benefit financially.

What happened

Donald Trump told reporters on Friday that his administration is discussing a plan where the federal government would take equity stakes in major AI companies such as OpenAI. An equity stake means owning a slice of a company, like buying shares in a business.

Trump described the idea as the government becoming “a partner” with the companies. He said the goal is to help “American people” benefit from the money AI companies may generate.

Trump said large AI groups including OpenAI, Anthropic, and xAI are expected to discuss the proposal further at the White House next week. The administration has already taken stakes in some strategically important companies in other areas, including Intel.

The idea has gained attention as concern about AI grows among voters, including within Trump’s Maga base. It also follows a separate proposal from Senator Bernie Sanders, who said he would introduce a bill to impose a one-time 50 percent tax on AI labs’ stock and use the proceeds to create a US sovereign wealth fund, which is a government-run investment pot.

Some tech figures have pushed back. Trump adviser David Sacks warned that deeper government ownership could increase government control of AI, and he compared the risk to China-style systems.

Why it matters

AI is expected to affect jobs and the economy, and it is becoming a political issue ahead of November’s midterm elections. If the government buys stakes in AI companies, taxpayers could share in any financial upside, but critics argue it could also blur the line between government and private companies.

Source: Financial Times