Could Everyday Aussies Own a Piece of Big AI Companies?

Former US President Donald Trump has floated a big idea: he wants American citizens to own a piece of major artificial intelligence companies like OpenAI. He sees it as a way for the public to directly benefit from the booming AI industry. While it’s certainly an interesting concept, the details are very fuzzy, and it's unclear how such a plan would ever actually work.

The core of the idea seems to be about sharing the wealth generated by AI. As these powerful new technologies — like the AI that writes text or creates images — become more and more common, they’re expected to create huge profits. Trump's proposal suggests that the general public, not just the tech giants and their investors, should get a share of those earnings. This isn't a completely new idea; OpenAI's boss, Sam Altman, reportedly discussed a similar concept back in 2025.

However, bringing this kind of plan to life faces massive hurdles. How would shares be distributed? Would it be through a special government fund or direct ownership? Who would decide which companies are included? And what about the impact on the companies themselves? It’s a bit like imagining every Australian getting shares in a new mining venture — it sounds appealing, but the practicalities are a nightmare.

While this discussion is happening in the US, it sparks a bigger conversation about how we, as a society, should benefit from the rapid growth of AI. It raises questions about fairness, access, and whether the profits from these transformative technologies should be more broadly shared. For now, it remains an ambitious idea without a clear roadmap, but it highlights the growing debate around who truly benefits from the AI revolution.