The Trump administration is negotiating a voluntary equity-sharing arrangement with major artificial intelligence companies, including OpenAI. The proposed scheme would transfer corporate shares to the U.S. government to distribute directly to citizens, establishing an economic buffer against widespread AI-driven job displacement.
The talks center on voluntary equity handovers rather than mandatory corporate taxes. The collected equity would potentially fund public dividend payments, creating a national framework for Universal Basic Capital (UBC).
The administration is actively engaged with OpenAI Chief Executive Officer Sam Altman regarding the structure of the voluntary AI equity-sharing plan, according to CNBC and NOTUS. Unlike traditional welfare systems that distribute post-tax cash, the UBC model shifts focus toward pre-distribution, granting citizens an ownership stake in the underlying technology.
The concept is rapidly gaining bipartisan political momentum as state and federal lawmakers race to address automation risks. In May, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed an executive order directing state agencies to explore universal basic capital models as tech layoffs accelerate across the sector. Republican Vivek Ramaswamy has also previously voiced support for the core mechanisms of UBC.
While the executive branch pursues a voluntary agreement, lawmakers are preparing more aggressive legislative alternatives. Senator Bernie Sanders announced he is drafting legislation to levy a mandatory 50% tax on AI companies. This punitive approach would forcefully fund a sovereign wealth fund if companies refuse the voluntary equity handover.
How the Universal Basic Capital Pivot Alters Silicon Valley Valuations
Transitioning from Universal Basic Income to Universal Basic Capital fundamentally changes the capitalization table for major tech firms. A voluntary equity handover dilutes existing shareholder value but shields companies like OpenAI from aggressive revenue taxation models like the 50% levy proposed by Sanders.
By granting the public actual corporate shares, the U.S. government effectively creates a sovereign wealth fund tied directly to domestic artificial intelligence output. This structural change aligns citizen financial health with corporate productivity gains rather than relying on standard corporate tax redistribution.