I am excited to announce our acquisition of TBPN. Their expertise in editorial content and deep audience connection make them invaluable partners as we pursue our mission.
Many of you already use TBPN to stay up to date with the latest news, which is why it stands out as a place where real conversations about AI and its creators happen every day.
Reflecting on our communication at OpenAI, I see that the usual approach doesn’t work for us. Unlike typical companies, we’re leading major technological development, with a mission to ensure artificial general intelligence benefits everyone. This means we must create space for honest, useful conversations about AI’s impact, especially among builders and users.
TBPN has already built this kind of space. Rather than trying to do it ourselves, we thought it might make sense to bring them in, support their work, and help them grow while keeping what makes them special. Editorial independence is very important. TBPN will continue to run their own show, pick their guests, and make their own editorial choices. This is essential to their credibility, and we are committed to protecting it under the terms of our agreement.
In addition, I’m excited to integrate their strong communications and marketing team skills with ours. Having helped many brands succeed online, their instinct for industry trends impresses me. Together, we can find new ways to help people better understand how AI affects everyday life.
TBPN will join our strategy team supporting Chris Lehane. Welcome, Jordi, John, Dylan, and the whole team.
This acquisition represents OpenAI’s first move into media ownership. TBPN, the leading industry talk show, will now report to Chris Lehane, OpenAI’s chief political operative.
TBPN, hosted by John Coogan and Jordi Hays, airs three hours daily on YouTube and X, focusing on tech, business, AI, and defense.
The show has a loyal Silicon Valley audience and features candid conversations with leaders like Mark Zuckerberg and Satya Nadella.
TBPN will maintain its brand and editorial control, continuing as a leading independent media voice. With OpenAI’s resources and support, TBPN plans to expand its audience and enhance coverage, while remaining responsible for its daily operations and content decisions. The show is already a major success, with expected earnings of over $30,000,000 this year, according to the Wall Street Journal.
OpenAI has its own podcast where company members have long conversations about building technology. OpenAI plans to use the founders’ amazing comps and marketing instincts beyond just the show, according to Fidji Simo, OpenAI’s Head of AGI deployment. TBPN will bring AI to the world so as to help people understand the full impact of this technology on our daily lives.
Simo added that TBPN’s skills are important for a unique company like OpenAI, where the standard communications playbook just doesn’t apply.
She said TBPN will maintain its editorial independence and continue to run its programming, choose its guests, and produce its own content. Editorial decisions
Still, some people may have concerns about the deal. OpenAI, a leading AI lab on the verge of an IPO, is acquiring a popular talk show that often covers the company and its rivals. After the deal, TBPN will be part of OpenAI’s strategy team and report to Chris Lehane, who created the phrase “vast right‑wing conspiracy” to deflect press scrutiny of the Clinton White House.
Lehane, a political strategist, has a notable background in politics and in advocacy for the crypto industry, bringing additional experience to the team.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman shared on social media that TBPN is his favorite tech show, expressing confidence that the acquisition will not affect TBPN’s commentary or its criticism of the company.
From TBPN’s perspective, the acquisition is a chance to move beyond mere commentary.
While we’ve been at times critical after meeting Sam and the OpenAI team, what stood out was their willingness to listen and focus on getting this right, Hays said, beyond simply offering commentary to shaping how technology is distributed and understood globally.
Sources: OpenAI acquires TBPN, OpenAI acquires TBPN, the buzzy founder-led business talk show
