Media – Techin' Geek

OpenAI announced on Thursday that it has acquired the online business talk show *TBPN* for an undisclosed sum. This move comes in response to the challenges OpenAI has recently encountered regarding its public perception.

Since its launch in 2024, *TBPN* has garnered attention in Silicon Valley by offering a daily livestream centered on the tech sector, viewed as more favorable towards technology than conventional media. Hosts John Coogan and Jordi Hays provide up-to-the-minute news analysis, review trending social media content, and interview executives from companies like Meta, Salesforce, Palantir, and OpenAI. It has gained particular popularity among OpenAI staff and other AI researchers, many of whom are active users of the social media platform X.

The acquisition prompts inquiries into how a media startup fits with OpenAI’s core functions of promoting ChatGPT, Codex, and a forthcoming super app. In March, OpenAI’s applications CEO, Fidji Simo, indicated that the organization should discontinue side projects and concentrate on its main activities.

In a staff memo regarding the acquisition, Simo claimed that ordinary communication tactics do not apply to OpenAI. “We’re not a typical company,” she mentioned in the memo, which was released as a blog post. “We are initiating a significant technological transformation. With the objective of delivering AGI to the world comes the obligation to cultivate an environment for genuine, constructive discussions about the advancements AI induces—centered around users and developers.”

*TBPN* is a relatively small operation in comparison to OpenAI. The media entity reported $5 million in advertising revenue last year and anticipates over $30 million by 2026, as per The Wall Street Journal. The show is said to draw around 70,000 viewers per episode across various platforms. A source familiar with OpenAI noted that the company does not expect *TBPN* to be a financial contributor, but it supports OpenAI’s communication approach.

OpenAI has been facing increasing public scrutiny recently. Following a February deal with the Department of Defense, Anthropic’s Claude experienced a spike in downloads, becoming the top free app on Apple. OpenAI’s leadership is also tackling the growing QuitGPT movement, comprised of individuals vowing never to use OpenAI’s offerings. OpenAI president Greg Brockman cited the challenges posed by AI’s popularity as a significant reason for his increased political spending.

This acquisition situates OpenAI among recent efforts in Silicon Valley to manage news enterprises. Over the past decades, tech giants have acquired media outlets, including Jeff Bezos’s purchase of The Washington Post, Marc Benioff’s acquisition of Time magazine, and Robinhood’s takeover of the newsletter company MarketSnacks. Such acquisitions often raise immediate concerns about the independence of the outlets. Simo reassured employees that *TBPN* would retain its editorial freedom.

“My favorite tech show is *TBPN*. We want them to keep excelling in what they do best,” OpenAI CEO Sam Altman posted on X. “I don’t expect them to be easier on us, [and I] will likely contribute to that with occasional whimsical choices.”

OpenAI affirmed that *TBPN* will maintain autonomy regarding its programming, guest selections, and editorial decisions, according to Simo’s memo. It also indicated that *TBPN* would report directly to OpenAI’s VP of global affairs, Chris Lehane. WIRED previously uncovered challenges faced by an economic research team under Lehane in addressing the adverse economic effects of AI.

Alaqad asserts that the loss of on-the-ground journalists equates to a loss of vital truths, as mainstream media outlets dictate the storyline. “Voices that are silenced and censored prevent us from fully grasping events,” she remarks.

During crises, disrupted communication leads to a lack of accountability and overlooked injustices. “Injustice shouts,” Alaqad claims, “while justice must be even louder.”

Journalists encounter ongoing suppression. In December 2025, Reporters Without Borders highlighted the deaths of 67 journalists that year, with 43 percent occurring in Gaza at the hands of Israeli forces. Since October 7, 2023, RSF reports over 220 fatalities among journalists in Gaza, whereas the UN reports a figure exceeding 260.

Dagher points out that the media blackout is part of a comprehensive tactic that includes limited movement and communication. Israel refutes the claim of targeting journalists.

“Murders of journalists stifle the truth,” Alaqad states. This leads to several consequences—diminishing on-ground reports and portraying journalists as dangers. “Such a message discourages individuals from interacting with journalists,” she observes.

Her protective press gear signaled her as a target, causing her mother to worry about her safety. Initial warm greetings and hospitality shifted to caution upon witnessing the targeting of journalists, Alaqad reflects.

Operating in Gaza involved navigating unpredictable conditions. Plans seldom extended beyond daylight hours, and circumstances rapidly evolved. “Uncertainty is the sole certainty,” Alaqad notes.

She frequently discovered that those she interviewed were subsequently killed in airstrikes. Now residing in Beirut, she studies media at the American University, backed by the Shireen Abu Akleh scholarship, named in honor of a journalist who lost her life due to Israeli forces.

Her widespread social media presence unveiled the truth of Gaza, yet also put her life at risk. While digital reporting reaches a broad audience, its permanence remains unstable, as accounts and content can vanish in an instant.