Trump suggests AI firms should "give back" to public

US President Donald Trump on Wednesday said he expects major artificial intelligence companies to agree to “giving back” to the public, suggesting a model that could involve a government stake or public benefit mechanism tied to AI industry gains, as per Reuters. Speaking at the White House Oval Office, Trump said he would soon meet top technology executives to discuss the proposal. “I’m going to have meetings with the top 12 or 15 executives very shortly, and we’re talking about giving back something to the public, and if we do that, the public will become very rich,” Trump said, according to Reuters. “I think they’ll do that, and I think it’ll make it very popular”, he added. He did not provide details on how such an arrangement would work or whether it would involve formal equity stakes, but indicated that discussions were underway with leading AI firms. The comments come amid growing political and public scrutiny of the AI sector, particularly around job losses and the concentration of wealth in large technology companies. Growing debate over AI ownership and public benefit According to a Reuters/Ipsos poll, around half of Americans fear AI could put them or someone in their household out of work, reflecting rising anxiety about automation’s economic impact. Trump’s remarks also align with earlier signals from his administration on exploring ways to link AI industry growth with public returns. Talks on public stake ideas already underway Background discussions around government participation in AI-linked gains have been ongoing for some time. As per CNBC, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and the White House have been in talks for more than a year over a possible structure that could allow the US government to take or receive equity-linked benefits in artificial intelligence companies. The idea includes the creation of a “Public Wealth Fund” model, under which returns from AI investments could potentially be distributed to citizens, according to the proposal referenced by CNBC. Trump had earlier indicated similar thinking while speaking aboard Air Force One, saying, “There are concepts where pieces could be given to the American public, where the American public essentially becomes a partner,” as per CNBC. He has also previously said he would meet AI companies “in the very short, very near future,” according to the earlier report. Policy backdrop and industry response The Trump administration has already moved to explore sovereign wealth fund-style structures and has taken stakes in some strategic companies in sectors such as semiconductors and critical minerals. Trump also signed directives aimed at accelerating AI adoption across federal agencies and encouraging access to advanced models for national security use. OpenAI has previously floated the idea of a public wealth fund that could invest in AI-related assets and distribute returns to citizens, though no formal agreement has been finalised, as per CNBC. While the structure remains unclear, the discussion reflects increasing political interest in how the benefits of AI growth could be shared more broadly, even as the sector continues to expand rapidly in valuation and influence.