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OpenAI Floats 5% U.S. Stake Proposal As It Seeks To Ease Washington Pressure

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

July 2, 2026

OpenAI has reportedly proposed giving the U.S. government a 5% stake in the company, a move that would value the holding at about $42.6 billion and mark an unprecedented shift in the relationship between Washington and one of the world’s most influential AI companies.

According to the Financial Times, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has argued in early discussions with the Trump administration that giving the public a direct financial interest in the company would be the most effective way to ensure Americans benefit from the rapid growth of artificial intelligence. People familiar with the talks said the proposal forms part of a broader effort to ease growing political scrutiny of the AI industry in Washington.

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A Big Bet On Shared Upside

The proposal follows OpenAI’s record funding round in March, which valued the company at $852 billion on a post-money basis. At that valuation, a 5% equity stake would be worth approximately $42.6 billion, potentially giving the U.S. government a substantial financial return if the company continues to grow.

Whether the Trump administration is willing to pursue the proposal remains unclear. Neither the White House nor OpenAI immediately responded to CNBC’s requests for comment.

A New Model For AI Policy?

According to the Financial Times, the idea extends beyond OpenAI. The proposal reportedly envisions other leading U.S. artificial intelligence companies offering similar equity stakes to the government, although it remains uncertain whether competing AI developers would be prepared to follow that approach.

If adopted more broadly, the model would represent a significant departure from traditional U.S. technology policy. Rather than acting solely as a regulator, the government would also become a financial stakeholder in one of the country’s most strategically important industries.

Part Of A Longer Conversation

The latest discussions build on conversations that have been taking place for more than a year. CNBC previously reported that Altman first raised the possibility of a government stake with the Trump administration in early 2025.

OpenAI expanded on that idea in April by proposing the creation of a public wealth fund that would hold investments linked to AI companies and distribute part of the sector’s economic gains more broadly.

Government Ownership Is Not Without Precedent

Although unusual for the AI industry, government equity ownership is not without precedent. The U.S. government currently holds a 10% stake in Intel after investing $8.9 billion in the semiconductor company’s common stock. In May, President Donald Trump said he should have sought an even larger ownership stake, and in June he described U.S. holdings in AI companies as “a beautiful thing” that would make Americans “partners in this revolution.”

Taken together, the proposal suggests OpenAI is trying to reshape its relationship with policymakers as artificial intelligence becomes an increasingly strategic issue. Offering the government a direct share in the company’s future growth could help align public and private interests while easing concerns over the concentration of power within the AI industry.

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Cyprus Expects More French Visitors In 2027 As Air Capacity Expands

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

September 18, 2026

Cyprus expects more French visitors in 2027 as airlines increase capacity between the two countries, Tourism Deputy Minister Kostas Koumis said after meetings with tour operators in Paris.

France, one of Cyprus’ key tourism markets, has had a difficult 2026. French arrivals fell 46% year over year to 8,453 in August, from 15,663 a year earlier, according to the Statistical Service of Cyprus (Cystat). August arrivals were also nearly 50% below the 16,798 recorded in the same month of 2024.

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Overall, Cyprus received 2.82 million tourist arrivals between January and August, down 7% from the same period in 2025.

Air Connectivity Supports 2027 Outlook

Koumis discussed the 2027 outlook with senior executives from tour operators offering Cyprus holidays during the IFTM Top Resa travel trade fair in Paris.

Higher air capacity between France and Cyprus was a key focus of the talks. Participants also discussed the impact of geopolitical tensions in the Middle East on the French market and Cyprus’ efforts to adapt its tourism offering to French travelers.

“The French market is undoubtedly an extremely important market for our country’s tourism,” Koumis said, adding that France had regained importance only a few years ago and still had room to grow.

Improved air connectivity will be an important factor in that expansion, according to Koumis. “It is now clear that air connectivity between France and Cyprus is improving significantly, which is a basic prerequisite for the further growth of the market,” he said.

Cyprus Promotes Tourism And Regional Cooperation

Koumis attended the opening of IFTM Top Resa at the invitation of French Tourism Minister Serge Papin, who later visited the Cyprus stand. Held from Sept. 15 to 17 at Paris Porte de Versailles, the event brought together more than 32,000 tourism professionals representing 177 destinations and 1,650 brands, according to organizers.

During his visit, Koumis also met Egyptian Tourism Minister Sherif Fathy. Cyprus and Egypt reaffirmed their tourism cooperation and discussed opportunities to strengthen ties further.

French media interviews covered Cyprus’ tourism offering, infrastructure and services, along with efforts to develop specialized tourism products. Regional instability weighed on arrivals in 2026, particularly during the spring, although the decline narrowed over the summer.