Trump to Meet AI Company Leaders on Government Investment
US President Donald Trump is preparing to meet with executives from some of the nation's leading artificial intelligence (AI) companies to discuss the possibility of the government acquiring financial stakes in their enterprises.
Speaking aboard Air Force One, President Trump explained the objective behind the US government's potential investment in AI firms was to "create almost a partnership with the American public."
He anticipates holding discussions with top AI company leaders at the White House, likely scheduled for next week.
While the president did not specify which companies would be involved, the largest US AI-focused firms include Google, Microsoft, OpenAI, SpaceX, and Anthropic. Notably, SpaceX and Anthropic are expected to go public in the near future.
Representatives from these companies were not immediately available for comment.
Recent Engagements and Legislative Proposals
OpenAI's chief executive, Sam Altman, recently traveled to Washington DC, where he met with Senator Bernie Sanders.
Senator Sanders has expressed intentions to propose a sovereign wealth fund model, whereby the US government would acquire a 50% ownership stake in AI companies.
When asked about Sanders' proposal, President Trump stated that he had been contemplating government investment in AI companies for over a year but did not dismiss the senator's idea.
"Where economics are concerned, we have things that aren't that far apart," Trump said.
Anthropic's Relations with the Government
Dario Amodei, CEO of Anthropic, met with senior White House officials a few weeks ago.
Although Anthropic is currently involved in a legal dispute with the US Department of Defense regarding its refusal to accept broad new contract terms, which led to its removal from certain government operations, the recent White House meeting indicated a possible easing of tensions.
Anthropic publicly commended President Trump's Executive Order on AI this week.
Additionally, Jack Clark, a co-founder of Anthropic, told BBC's Newsnight on Thursday that the company maintains "daily conversations with the US government and we're finding ways to be helpful to national security."
