Anthropic Is Not in Talks to Give the US Government a Stake, Reuters Reports

US authorities have not discussed with Anthropic any possible transfer of a stake in the company to the government, Reuters reported on July 6, 2026, citing informed sources. The report comes amid a growing debate over state ownership in the capital of leading US AI labs.

Where the idea of share transfers came from

The starting point is the Intel deal. About a year ago, the largest US chipmaker gave the US government roughly 10% of its shares as part of agreements on state support for semiconductor manufacturing. The deal fit the logic of the CHIPS Act: subsidies in exchange for a stake that lets the state share in the company's future earnings.

According to the Financial Times, this precedent encouraged the Trump administration to consider similar arrangements with leading AI companies. OpenAI, per the FT, is discussing giving the administration a package of about 5% of its shares, half the size of the Intel deal. The same report said similar talks may be under way with other players in the AI market, which immediately raised questions about Anthropic.

• Intel gave the US government ~10% of its shares about a year ago
• OpenAI is discussing giving ~5% of its shares to the Trump administration (FT data)
• Reuters sources do not report similar talks with Anthropic
• Neither US officials nor Anthropic have given official comments

Why the silence of both sides is not an answer

Reuters asked US officials and Anthropic representatives for comment and received no reply from either side. Technically, this means the agency did not get official confirmation that no talks took place: the informed sources do not mention contacts with Anthropic, but the final word rests with official representatives.

Anthropic was founded in 2021 by Dario Amodei and colleagues who left OpenAI. The company has raised several billion dollars in investment, with Amazon and Google holding the largest stakes. Historically, Anthropic has positioned itself as an independent lab focused on AI safety and has avoided close alliances with the state. Direct government ownership would fundamentally change that positioning, both inside the company and in the eyes of the research community.

A government shareholding typically comes with information rights about the company's operations and potential restrictions on partnerships with foreign players. For Anthropic, which is actively expanding its international business, that would be a significant constraint.

Why Washington wants stakes in AI companies

The logic of this policy differs from classic industrial policy. This is not nationalization but rather a mechanism of strategic influence: the state gains formal stakeholder status and access to technology without complex regulatory procedures. Amid competition with China, Washington regards the leading AI labs (OpenAI, Anthropic, Google DeepMind) as strategic national security assets.

What it means

The question of state ownership in AI companies is no longer theoretical. The Intel precedent and the talks around OpenAI show that Washington is seriously considering equity agreements as a tool of AI policy. Anthropic so far remains outside these arrangements, but the silence of both sides in response to Reuters' request leaves the question open.

Frequently asked questions

Have

Anthropic and the US government held talks about transferring shares?

According to Reuters sources, no such talks have taken place. Neither US officials nor Anthropic have officially confirmed this: both sides failed to respond to the agency's request.

How many shares did Intel give the US government?

Intel gave about 10% of its shares roughly a year ago, as part of agreements on state financing of semiconductor manufacturing under the CHIPS Act.