Can a tech company shape the conversation about itself while staying out of the editorial room? OpenAI’s acquisition of the fast-growing podcast TBPN suggests it believes so, signaling a move to influence how artificial intelligence is discussed and understood globally, even as the company says the show will maintain editorial independence and continue to host critical voices
OpenAI has acquired technology news podcast TBPN, the company said on Thursday, as it expands its footprint in media and public conversation around artificial intelligence.
TBPN is a daily podcast hosted by John Coogan and Jordi Hays that covers technology news and features interviews with major tech leaders, including Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, and OpenAI co-founder and CEO Sam Altman.
The deal comes amid a broader shift in media consumption, with independent podcasts and creator-led video platforms drawing audiences that increasingly rival traditional media companies.
The Wall Street Journal first reported the acquisition.
OpenAI said TBPN will maintain editorial independence and continue selecting its own guests. The podcast will be housed within the company’s strategy organization.
In a statement announcing the deal, OpenAI CEO of AGI Deployment Fidji Simo said the company’s push toward artificial general intelligence requires space for “constructive conversation about the changes AI creates.”
Altman, who has appeared on TBPN multiple times, said he wanted the show to retain its critical edge. “TBPN is my favorite tech show. We want them to keep that going and for them to do what they do so well,” Altman wrote in a post on X. “I don’t expect them to go any easier on us, am sure I’ll do my part to help enable that with occasional stupid decisions.”
Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
TBPN launched in 2025 and has built an early audience, with about 58,000 subscribers on YouTube. The podcast has secured sponsorships from fintech companies Ramp and Plaid, Google’s Gemini, and has a partnership with the New York Stock Exchange.
The podcast generated about $5 million in advertising revenue in 2025 and is projected to exceed $30 million this year, according to the Wall Street Journal.
Hays said the decision to join OpenAI was driven in part by a desire to move beyond commentary. “While we’ve been critical of the industry at times, after getting to know Sam and the OpenAI team, what stood out most was their openness to feedback and commitment to getting this right,” he said. “Moving from commentary to real impact in how this technology is distributed and understood globally is incredibly important to us.”
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Faustine Ngila is the AI Editor at Impact Newswire, based in Nairobi, Kenya. He is an award-winning journalist specializing in artificial intelligence, blockchain, and emerging technologies.
He previously worked as a global technology reporter at Quartz in New York and Digital Frontier in London, where he covered innovation, startups, and the global digital economy.
With years of experience reporting on cutting-edge technologies, Faustine focuses on AI developments, industry trends, and the impact of technology on society.
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