WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump signaled that his administration is considering the U.S. government taking equity stakes in leading artificial intelligence companies to allow the American public to benefit from the industry's growth.
Trump made the comments aboard Air Force One on Friday, saying his team is exploring the idea and that he plans to meet with executives from major AI firms at the White House as soon as next week. He compared the potential arrangement to the government's previous stake in Intel.
"There’s something very interesting about it, where it almost becomes a partnership with the American public," Trump said.
The proposal would involve the federal government acquiring shares in companies such as OpenAI, Anthropic and xAI, according to reports citing administration discussions. Details of the structure, including the size of any potential stakes or timelines, remain unclear.
Trump has described the concept as creating a form of public partnership in the AI sector, which has seen rapid expansion and high valuations. The idea builds on earlier talks involving OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, who has discussed similar concepts with administration officials since 2025.
The discussions come as several AI firms, including Anthropic and OpenAI, prepare for potential public offerings. The administration has not released a formal policy proposal on government ownership in private AI companies.
Industry reaction has been mixed, with some tech stocks rising on the news of potential government involvement. Critics have raised concerns about government intervention in the private sector, though specific responses from AI executives were not immediately available.
The White House has emphasized promoting AI innovation and security through collaboration with the private sector. Trump has previously signed directives aimed at advancing U.S. leadership in artificial intelligence.
As of Wednesday, no meeting date has been confirmed and no agreements have been announced. Administration officials have said they will continue discussions with AI leaders on the proposal.
The development reflects ongoing debates over how to balance technological advancement with broader economic benefits for the public amid AI's growing influence on the economy. Details on the next steps remain unclear.
