What we know about the plan to give Americans an equity stake in AI - Financial Times

The Trump administration is actively pursuing a plan to acquire equity stake in leading AI companies, with President Donald Trump confirming ongoing discussions, particularly with OpenAI, to allow the American public to benefit from the booming AI sector. This initiative comes as major AI players like OpenAI, Anthropic, and SpaceX are reportedly gearing up for initial public offerings, potentially creating trillion-dollar valuations and fueling concerns about concentrated wealth and societal impact. These discussions are part of a broader, bipartisan push to ensure the economic benefits of AI are widely distributed. While the Trump administration frames it as a 'partnership' with the American public, Senator Bernie Sanders has simultaneously proposed the 'American AI Sovereign Wealth Fund Act,' which would mandate a 50% equity transfer from major AI firms to a government-managed fund. This policy debate is intensifying amidst public apprehension about AI's potential for job displacement and economic disruption, drawing parallels to previous government interventions in strategic industries. White House meetings with AI executives are slated for next week to delve into the specifics of these public-private partnerships. The outcome could range from voluntary share donations to a more forceful government acquisition of equity, shaping how AI's immense profits are shared and potentially establishing a new precedent for federal involvement in critical technological sectors.