OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and the White House continue to discuss possible government funding for artificial intelligence companies, CNBC confirmed Friday.
Discussions have been going on for more than a year, with Altman first sharing the idea with the Trump administration in 2025, according to people familiar with the matter who asked not to be identified because the details are confidential.
The talks continued this week, with Altman meeting with various lawmakers and officials in Washington about the latest developments in regulation and AI.
As part of a potential agreement, OpenAI could donate equity to the U.S. government to create something like the “public wealth fund” it outlined in its April policy proposal, the people said.
According to the proposal, OpenAI said the fund would be able to “invest in a variety of long-term assets” and would allow the public to participate in the “upside” of AI growth, perhaps by receiving the fund’s proceeds directly.
Formal investment terms have not yet been determined, and details are subject to change. Notus was the first to report on the recent meeting.
President Donald Trump addressed reporters Friday about the meeting aboard Air Force One.
“There’s a concept of giving the work to the American people, where the American people are essentially partners,” he said.
The president said he plans to meet with AI companies “in the very near future.”
In February, President Trump signed an executive order requiring the federal government to establish a sovereign wealth fund.
The Trump administration has already acquired the stock. intelfounded International Business Machines and other quantum and critical minerals companies during his second term as president.
Sen. Bernie Sanders, R-Vermont, told CNBC that he discussed the concept of a sovereign wealth fund with Mr. Altman during a meeting on Wednesday.
OpenAI has been valued by private investors at more than $850 billion, and the company is preparing for an initial public offering as early as this year. In March, the company closed a record funding round co-led by MGX, which is backed by Abu Dhabi’s sovereign wealth fund.
Technology companies like OpenAI have played a central role in shaping the White House’s position on this nascent technology.
President Trump signed a directive Friday directing federal national security agencies to “accelerate AI deployment to meet surging demand” and quickly deploy “cutting-edge AI models from multiple vendors.”
The directive comes days after President Trump signed an executive order requiring AI companies to voluntarily provide government access to their models for up to 30 days before publishing them. The order does not include specific details, but executives at major AI companies, including Altman, expressed support on social media.
“The U.S. should lead in AI by continuing to develop the best models, ensuring safety, and getting cyber tools into the hands of trusted defenders,” Altman said in a post on X, adding that “the new EO gets the balance right.”
—CNBC’s Karen Sloan and Emily Wilkins contributed to this article.
