
Humanity may very well be on the cusp of one of the most transformative eras in our collective history. Many governments, businesses, and individuals are clamoring to secure “AI sovereignty” and capture the immense economic opportunities of an AI-accelerated future. Against this backdrop, OpenAI has published its new Economic Blueprint, outlining how the United States can maintain AI leadership, ensure equitable access, and drive growth—while countering China’s rising influence in this space.
Indeed, the decisions we make as a country today, and our strategic investments in AI, could shape our national destiny for the next century. OpenAI’s Economic Blueprint does an excellent job of capturing the scope and urgency of this moment. I highly recommend that you read it in its entirety.
The company draws an interesting parallel to the early automotive industry, reminding us that a favorable blend of regulation, infrastructure investment, and a spirit of innovation propelled the U.S. to global leadership in cars. The Blueprint’s main proposals include:
- National AI Regulation & Infrastructure
Urging the federal government to unify AI rules and drastically increase investments in power generation, chip manufacturing, and data centers - “Frontier Models” for National Security
Positioning highly advanced AI systems—chiefly OpenAI’s speciality—as critical to safeguarding America’s technological edge and bolstering its defence capabilities. - Export Controls & Democratic AI
Advocating selective sharing of advanced models with allies, while restricting adversarial access, to ensure US-aligned “democratic AI” prevails internationally. - AI Economic Zones
Calling for fast-tracked permits and public funding to establish specialised zones where AI companies (including OpenAI) can build new facilities and access resources with minimal regulatory roadblocks.
In essence, the Blueprint warns that if the US fails to seize an estimated $175 billion in global AI investments, those funds could flow to China—potentially reinforcing a more authoritarian brand of AI. By capturing it first, America could further its influence and secure a future built on “democratic” rather than autocratic technology.
OpenAI’s timing could not be more impeccable. The Blueprint arrives as the outgoing Biden administration announces new export controls on advanced AI technology (which the Blueprint endorses) and as the United Kingdom unveils its ambitious AI Opportunities Action Plan, backed by £14 billion in private commitments. Meanwhile, world leaders and top executives are set to converge on Davos next week, where AI will dominate the conversation. Into this swirl of global activity, OpenAI’s Economic Blueprint lands like a clarion call for American AI leadership.
A keen eye will note, however, that while framed as a patriotic vision for American leadership, OpenAI is skillfully positioning itself at the intersection of national security, economic policy, and technological innovation. For companies paying attention, this is a masterclass in corporate policy influence.
What makes this Blueprint particularly effective is how it reframes corporate interests as national imperatives. OpenAI isn’t just asking for favorable policies—it’s presenting itself as crucial to America’s technological sovereignty. In doing so, it’s creating a narrative where supporting OpenAI’s growth becomes synonymous with maintaining American leadership in AI.
The company’s emphasis on “frontier models”—their term for the most advanced AI systems—is strategically significant. OpenAI, as a leader in this space, would be perfectly positioned to benefit from any government policies that prioritize these cutting-edge systems. Their call for responsibly exporting these models to allies would open up international markets while restricting potential competitors in adversarial nations.
Their argument that AI should be able to learn from “universal, publicly available information just like humans do,” while warning about foreign companies’ disregard for IP rights, is a masterful piece of policy positioning. It essentially argues for privileged access to training data while raising alarms about international competition.
The proposed “AI Economic Zones,” with accelerated permitting processes, would be particularly valuable for OpenAI’s expansion plans. These zones would reduce regulatory hurdles for building new AI infrastructure, potentially saving the company significant time and money in scaling operations.
Even the education initiatives serve OpenAI’s interests. While the proposal to provide computing resources to universities sounds altruistic, it would help create a workforce trained specifically on OpenAI’s tools and systems, essentially building their future talent pipeline at reduced cost.
I am certainly not faulting OpenAI for its impressive lobbying efforts. Whether we like it or not, corporate lobbying has become an important and necessary part of the American policy landscape. Next week, the U.S. will transition to the second Trump term, and tech companies are all angling to secure favorable positions with the new administration. OpenAI’s messaging strategy seems particularly effective.
Their Economic Blueprint reads like a battle cry for America to seize the AI age with both hands, harnessing innovation to drive shared prosperity while ensuring national security. Who wouldn’t want that?
But for all the Blueprint’s merits, what truly stands out is what is missing. While OpenAI explicitly outlines the vast resources, regulatory alignments, and infrastructure support it wants from the nation, there is scant detail on what it will provide in return. In my view, an accompanying “Promise to America” is vital: a public, enforceable pledge outlining how frontier-model providers plan to share the benefits and mitigate the risks. Such a “promise” might include:
- Guaranteed Access for Public Institutions:
If public investment helps create profitable AI infrastructure, the public deserves a share of those returns. This could take various forms—from direct revenue sharing to subsidized access for public institutions—but it needs to be specific and enforceable. - Transparent Job Creation Targets:
The Blueprint talks about creating “tens of thousands of skilled-trade jobs,” but where? When? And with what wages and benefits? AI companies seeking public support should provide detailed employment commitments, including specific targets for local hiring and workforce development. - Revenue Sharing Mechanisms:
If public investment helps create profitable AI infrastructure, the public deserves a share of those returns. This could take various forms—from direct revenue sharing to subsidized access for public institutions—but it needs to be specific and enforceable. - Binding Safety and Transparency Commitments:
While the Blueprint mentions “common-sense standards,” it lacks concrete promises about safety testing, algorithmic transparency, or public oversight. Companies seeking public support should accept clear accountability measures.
Commitments like these would show an authentic spirit of partnership. Rather than merely seeking favorable regulations, AI companies would be stepping forward as co-creators of America’s AI future, bound by specific obligations to the people whose investments and trust they rely upon.
There is much to admire in OpenAI’s Economic Blueprint. It eloquently highlights America’s critical juncture: either lead decisively on AI infrastructure and policies or cede ground to global competitors who might not share our democratic values. Nevertheless, patriotism alone is insufficient—particularly when the proposals place so much onus on public resources and regulatory interventions.
OpenAI has every right to make its case, and many of its recommendations could indeed strengthen the broader American AI landscape. Yet, in omitting a reciprocal “Promise to America,” the Blueprint falls short of ensuring that these public contributions result in shared prosperity. If we truly aim to build a democratic AI ecosystem, then AI leaders owe the public tangible commitments—not just ambitious statements.
As Sam Altman, OpenAI’s CEO, presciently noted, “AI will help our children do things we can’t.” He’s likely right. But if we are to marshal national will, regulatory power, and taxpayer funds to make that future possible, then we need more than sweeping vision. We need an explicit pact: a credible, enforceable “Promise to America” that ensures every community shares in the benefits of an AI revolution—rather than simply funding a corporate opportunity dressed in patriotic clothing.