OpenAI’s Chief Financial Officer Sarah Friar sparked controversy by suggesting the US government should “backstop” the company’s investments in artificial intelligence infrastructure. However, she quickly walked back her comments.
Friar initially stated that a federal government guarantee for AI companies’ debt would help financing and reduce costs. This raised questions about whether taxpayers would be responsible if OpenAI couldn’t pay its $1.4 trillion chip commitments.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman later clarified the company’s stance, stating they don’t want government guarantees and believe taxpayers should not bail out struggling companies. Altman emphasized that governments should focus on investing in data centers and guaranteeing loans for new chip fabrication plants to support national security interests.
President Donald Trump has also weighed in, prioritizing AI infrastructure development and reducing regulations. His administration aims to ensure America’s dominance in the global AI race and create a favorable environment for companies like OpenAI to thrive.
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/11/06/tech/openai-backtracks-government-support-chip-investments