The US President Donald Trump administration is exploring an unconventional idea that could reshape the relationship between the government, the public, and the rapidly growing artificial intelligence industry. US President Donald Trump has indicated that his team is examining whether Americans could gain a stake in leading AI companies, while also preparing to meet top executives from the sector in the coming days.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump suggested that a model involving public participation in AI firms could be worth considering, according to a Reuters report.
“There’s something very interesting about it, where it almost becomes a partnership with the American public,” he told reporters aboard Air Force One, the report added. “We’ll look into that.”
The remarks come amid broader discussions within Washington over how to regulate and oversee the fast-evolving AI industry without weakening the country’s competitive position.
The latest comments follow a report by digital news outlet NOTUS, which said senior US officials had already held preliminary discussions with artificial intelligence companies regarding a scenario in which the government could purchase shares in selected firms.
While details remain unclear, the White House has not publicly outlined the agenda for Trump’s planned meeting with AI executives. It is also unknown whether the possibility of government ownership stakes will feature prominently in those discussions.
Several major technology companies, including Anthropic, OpenAI, Google, Facebook, and SpaceX, have not publicly commented on the reported conversations, added the report.
Balancing Innovation And Regulation
The administration has faced growing challenges in determining how aggressively AI should be regulated. Efforts to introduce new oversight measures have encountered resistance from parts of the technology sector concerned about restrictions that could slow innovation.
An executive order focused on artificial intelligence, originally scheduled for signing in May, was unexpectedly withdrawn. Reports suggested industry concerns played a role in the decision.
At the time, Trump expressed reservations about certain provisions and emphasised the importance of maintaining America’s technological advantage over China in the global AI race.
Earlier this week, however, the administration introduced a revised version of the order. Under the new framework, leading AI developers are encouraged to voluntarily submit their most advanced models for government-led cybersecurity testing before making them publicly available.
Growing Security Concerns Put AI In The Spotlight
The debate over AI governance has intensified following Anthropic’s release of its advanced Mythos tool. Security experts have warned that highly capable AI systems could be exploited to accelerate sophisticated cyberattacks, particularly against industries that depend on complex legacy infrastructure.
Banking and financial services have emerged as key areas of concern due to their interconnected systems and reliance on older technologies that may be vulnerable to advanced threats.
