OpenAI reportedly in talks to hand stake to White House

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OpenAI is reportedly in talks to hand a 5% stake to the White House, as it aims to clear political barriers ahead of its upcoming IPO. The FT reports that its CEO, Sam Altman, believes this could give the public a share in the benefits of AI. Under the proposal, other firms would give the US government a similar-sized stake. The blueprint is pitched at Donald Trump’s interventionist instincts. His administration has already assumed a 10% share in Intel, a move aimed at shoring up America’s chip manufacturing base. It has also taken a stake in a critical minerals firm, and it acquired a ‘golden share’ in US Steel when the firm merged with Japan’s Nippon Steel. On AI, Trump initially took a laissez-faire attitude. But he has recently started to regulate the sector, requiring its companies to submit their new models for testing before public release.