Breaking news

Trump Discusses Equity Stakes In AI Companies For Public Benefit

Conceptualizing A Public Wealth Initiative

Recent comments by President Donald Trump have drawn attention to discussions around potential government equity stakes in artificial intelligence companies. Speaking about the idea, Trump suggested that such arrangements could allow the American public to benefit from the growth of the AI sector through government-backed ownership structures.

Strategic Conversations With Industry Leaders

Although Trump did not name specific companies, reports have pointed to OpenAI as one of the firms involved in discussions with the administration. CNBC previously reported that the Trump administration had discussed a potential equity stake in OpenAI. The company has also outlined a proposal for a “Public Wealth Fund,” under which a portion of the proceeds could be distributed to citizens.

Government Participation And Broader Political Debate

According to Bloomberg, Trump suggested that Americans could become indirect partners in AI companies through government-backed equity arrangements. The proposal follows previous government interventions in strategic industries, including the acquisition of a 10% stake in Intel. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has reportedly discussed the possibility of government ownership stakes in major AI companies since early 2025.

Cross-Partisan Interest And Critical Perspectives

The idea has attracted attention from figures across the political spectrum. Senator Bernie Sanders has proposed a one-time 50% stock tax on major AI companies, including OpenAI, Anthropic and xAI, arguing that the economic benefits of AI should be distributed more broadly. Some investors and industry figures, including David Sacks, have expressed cautious support for aspects of the proposal while raising concerns about increasing overlap between government and corporate interests. Additional criticism has come from former Microsoft employee Dare Obasanjo, who argued that certain proposals could resemble government support measures for private companies.

Looking Forward

This emerging dialogue on blending public wealth with private innovation is set against the backdrop of a rapidly evolving AI landscape. As more companies consider public offerings, the debate over how best to harness AI’s economic promise while ensuring broad citizen benefit is likely to intensify, requiring careful regulatory and strategic consideration from both industry leaders and policymakers.

Cyprus To Add 125MW Of Battery Storage Before Summer 2027

Electricity storage batteries are expected to arrive in Cyprus in January 2027, with installation scheduled to be completed before next summer’s peak demand season, Energy Minister Michael Damianos said on Sunday.

Storage Capacity Set To Expand Grid Flexibility

Damianos said contracts have already been signed with the supplier and the Transmission System Operator (TSO) for the battery storage project.

Once operational, the facilities will add 125 megawatts (MW) of storage capacity to the national grid, allowing more renewable electricity to be stored instead of being curtailed during periods of excess generation. The minister said the system is expected to be operational before the summer of 2027.

Addressing Evening Demand

Cyprus currently has just over 1,000MW of conventional electricity generation, which Damianos said is generally sufficient during daytime hours. Demand becomes more challenging after sunset, when solar generation falls while electricity consumption, driven largely by air-conditioning, remains high.

He said battery storage will allow electricity generated during the day to be used during the evening peak.

Additional Projects Under Development

Damianos said approvals have also been granted for 150MW of privately owned battery storage projects, which are expected to become operational during 2027.

The Electricity Authority of Cyprus (EAC) is developing an additional 180MW of storage capacity. Two projects, with capacities of 80MW and 100MW, are expected to be completed before next summer.

According to the minister, several hundred megawatts of battery storage capacity are expected to be connected to the national grid by the end of 2027.

Power Supply Before The Batteries Arrive

Asked how electricity demand would be managed before the storage projects are completed, Damianos said the Transmission System Operator considers the system capable of meeting demand under normal operating conditions.

He said last week’s power supply disruptions were caused by a fault at one of the EAC’s generators and that both the utility and the TSO are working to maintain system reliability with the existing generation capacity.

Damianos added that, provided there are no unexpected outages, the electricity system is expected to remain stable, with the period immediately after sunset continuing to pose the greatest challenge.

Uol
The Future Forbes Realty Global Properties
Aretilaw firm
eCredo

Become a Speaker

Become a Speaker

Become a Partner

Subscribe for our weekly newsletter