OpenAI’s CEO Sam Altman has suggested allocating 5% of the firm’s shares to a U.S. sovereign wealth fund, as reported by the Financial Times on Thursday, referencing two sources acquainted with the situation. As part of this proposal, other AI firms would also contribute similar equity stakes, although numerous significant questions linger regarding the details.

According to the FT’s information, the contribution aims to “maintain favorable relations with the administration and… counter political backlash.”

Similar dialogues were mentioned by CNBC in June and were later validated by President Trump, who noted he had talked about “ideas where shares might be provided to the American public, making the American public effectively a partner with these companies.” No specific figures for the suggested equity share were disclosed at that time.

The discussions are still in early stages and, according to the FT, any formal decision would likely need congressional authorization, which could add considerable complexity to the situation.

Altman has also publicly considered the concept of a public AI fund, and OpenAI has become increasingly detailed in its outlines of how such a fund might be organized. Recently, a policy document titled “Industrial Policy for the Intelligence Age,” released by OpenAI in April, advocated for a public wealth fund that could invest directly in AI labs and firms implementing their technology.

“Profits from the Fund could be allocated directly to individuals, enabling more citizens to engage directly in the benefits of AI-fueled growth, independent of their initial wealth or access to capital,” the paper states.

A bolder alternative to this policy was offered by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) in June, proposing a one-time 50% tax on AI company stock, with the resulting shares being added to a public wealth fund. The legislation, named the American AI Sovereign Wealth Fund Act, would be relevant to all “systemically important” AI entities, encompassing those involved with data centers, infrastructure, or robotics. Under this plan, companies like Google and SpaceX that engage in AI as merely a part of their operations could separate their non-AI business divisions to evade tax obligations.

The bill has not yet progressed to the committee stage.