OpenAI Tries to Bribe the U.S. Government With a $43 Billion 5% Stake
Nothing says 'we believe in the free market' quite like trying to make the White House your business partner. If you can't beat the regulators, why not just buy them out and make them shareholders?
The artificial intelligence giant OpenAI, currently sporting a jaw-dropping valuation of nearly $852 billion, has initiated talks to hand over a massive chunk of its equity directly to the federal government. The proposed deal would transfer a 5% stake of the company into the hands of Uncle Sam, a package worth a casual $43 billion.
Behind this unprecedented move is the company’s chief executive, Sam Altman, who seems to have realized that traditional lobbying is so last century. By turning the United States government into a major shareholder, the startup hopes to build a golden shield against antitrust lawsuits, copyright crackdowns, and pesky safety regulations. The primary target of this charm offensive is the administration of Donald Trump, where a cozy relationship with the White House could guarantee smooth sailing for the company's aggressive expansion plans.
This is the ultimate merger of state and silicon, transforming a tech startup into a literal department of national interest. The line between public governance and private monopoly has never looked so blurry, setting a wild precedent where any tech giant with enough cash can simply buy itself immunity by making the sovereign state its business partner.
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