OpenAI

OpenAI Secures Tech Talk Show ‘TBPN’—and Benefits from Favorable Coverage

OpenAI Secures Tech Talk Show ‘TBPN’—and Benefits from Favorable Coverage

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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.

OpenAI Unveils Major Growth of London Office

OpenAI Unveils Major Growth of London Office

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OpenAI has unveiled intentions to convert its London location into its most extensive research center outside of the United States. Founded in 2023, the UK office seeks to broaden its research team by drawing talent from premier British universities, though exact hiring figures remain unspecified.

Mark Chen, OpenAI’s chief research officer, underscored the globally recognized talent and institutions in the UK as pivotal factors for this expansion, reinforcing AI safety and utility. This initiative positions OpenAI in direct rivalry for top research talent with Google DeepMind, which is steered by British researcher Demis Hassabis and operates from London. DeepMind actively partners with Oxford and Cambridge Universities through professorships, funded research endeavors, and collaborative projects.

Recent career fairs at Oxford University demonstrated an increasing appetite for AI positions, marked by a rise in both job opportunities and student interest. Jonathan Black, director of the university’s careers service, highlighted the beneficial effects of these trends.

The London team will play a role in products such as Codex and GPT-5.2, while also prioritizing model safety, reliability, and performance assessment. UK science and technology secretary Liz Kendall commended the initiative as evidence of the UK’s preeminent position in AI research.

This announcement coincides with the UK’s initiatives to upgrade data center and power infrastructure to accommodate the growing computing needs of AI firms, including OpenAI.