President Donald Trump recently claimed to be in talks with major American artificial intelligence companies about forming a partnership with the federal government, which could involve the government taking an equity stake in these firms. This announcement, made during a press conference, surprised many in the AI industry, as several leading companies reported they had not been part of any such discussions. Trump referenced a past deal where the government acquired a 10% equity stake in Intel, suggesting that similar arrangements could benefit the American public through dividends or partnerships. However, sources within the industry expressed skepticism, indicating that Trump's comments may have stemmed from a single conversation rather than widespread discussions. Notably, OpenAI's CEO Sam Altman was mentioned as a possible influence behind Trump's proposal, as some believe that government support could safeguard AI companies from failure. While White House officials did not confirm any meetings, a former aide described Trump's remarks as a strategic move to initiate dialogue, suggesting that a meeting could still occur in the future.